Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has asked a number of questions. In regard to the comments which were made in Geneva yesterday by the DPRK that South Korea would face final destruction if it continued to press for tougher sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations, the comments which were made by the DPRK representative at the conference on disarmament in Geneva yesterday are totally unacceptable and only serve to exacerbate an already tense situation. For North Korea to make such an explicit threat against its neighbour is quite reckless and wholly irresponsible. What is more, such language is all the more reprehensible given that the comments were made at a United Nations forum, the purpose of which was to promote global disarmament.

The intention is that the sanctions will come into effect straight away. The European Union will work very closely with the United Nations in regard to the potential destabilisation of the Korean Peninsula. We have encouraged the resumption of the six party talks. A very clear message is now being given to North Korea that the international community wants it to engage in these talks and wants it to discontinue nuclear testing.

As the Deputy said, there are eight countries which have yet to ratify the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. There are three countries which have not even signed it, and one of those is the DPRK.

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