Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the sanctions that will be imposed on North Korea following the latest nuclear weapons tests [8920/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I issued a statement on 12 February condemning in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the DPRK, to test a nuclear explosive device on 12 February 2013. This action directly threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and was a clear violation of North Korea’s international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2087.

It has been the position of successive Irish Governments that nuclear weapons have never and will never guarantee the security of any nation. The very existence of these weapons threatens security.

Following this test, the international community has been united in its strong disapproval of this action, and there has been strong condemnation to this effect by the EU, the US and China. The UN Security Council has also strongly condemned the test. The members of the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2087 on 22 January which expressed the council’s determination to take significant action in the event of a further test. In line with this commitment, following this latest nuclear test, the members of the Security Council have begun work on appropriate measures in a Security Council resolution.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council of 18 February agreed, unanimously, that additional restrictive measures be taken against North Korea. Together with my EU colleagues, I agreed to further strengthen sanctions against North Korea by adopting EU autonomous measures which are in addition to those contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2087. These further measures in particular concern trade in conventional weapons involving North Korea and in relation to the export to North Korea of certain key components for ballistic usage.

At the Foreign Affairs Council, Ireland together with our EU partners further called upon the DPRK to re-engage constructively with the international community, in particular with the members of the six party talks, and to work towards lasting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The European Union stands ready to continue to work with its partners in support of these objectives.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I welcome the fact that he issued a strong statement and that this matter has been taken very seriously at the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting. One worrying commentary I saw reported was that North Korea threatened South Korea with final destruction during a debate at the UN Conference on Disarmament recently and it talked about taking second and third steps after the nuclear test last week. That obviously needs to be seriously dealt with at UN and EU level and at every appropriate forum.

Can the Tánaiste indicate when the additional sanctions agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday will become effective? If North Korea continues to pursue nuclear ballistic capability, as it has indicated, what steps will the European Union take to address the destabilisation of the Korean Peninsula? When is it expected that the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty will come into force? Am I correct in thinking that it awaits the signature of eight states? Is it under the remit of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty or under the remit of the International Atomic Energy Agency?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Are questions on the same subject not being grouped together any more? Questions Nos. 38 and 49 are on the same subject. I do not know who made that decision. There are a number of other questions on the same subject. I know it is not the Minister's responsibility but I noticed recently that questions on the same subject tend not be grouped any more and I wonder is that a new policy.

Britain has talked about further isolating North Korea but I wonder how it could be isolated further. The regime is living in a bubble; it is living in fantasy land. We all accept that. The only way to break down some of the rhetoric is for people to talk to them or visit them and hopefully that could be achieved through such outreach.

We have heard what North Korea said in regard to South Korea and it has said that if the Americans take action, it will step up things. The concern is the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region. Are the Japanese and the South Koreans going to do the same? We do not expect them to but that is the concern in this respect as would be their alignment with other countries around the world in relation to it. I know discussions were taking place but perhaps we need to look outside the loop and consider if there is anything different we as an independent nation can do in regard to North Korea or other conflicts around the world.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Tánaiste indicate if there was any discussion at the Council meeting in regard to the commentary at the weekend that Iran's leading nuclear scientists travel to North Korea for this particular nuclear test? As we know, advocates and friends of Iran in this country will always state that Iran's nuclear capability is being developed for peaceful purposes and as a source of energy whereas North Korea declares that it is building weapons as a deterrent, as they would say, to hostile powers, but it is obviously for aggression purposes. Was this particular issue discussed at the Council meeting?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On Deputy Crowe's point on the issue of isolation, Ireland has diplomatic relations with North Korea. We do not have a resident embassy there but through our diplomatic relations we make our point of view very clearly known and independently known. Over many decades Ireland has taken a leading role in regard to nuclear non-proliferation. We are very clear in our view. We are one of the leading countries in the world which says that nuclear weapons pose a huge threat to humanity and to peace and stability in the world. The idea that a country would develop a nuclear weapon as some form of a defence mechanism is wrong.

We must rid the world of nuclear weapons and that is why we have been such a strong proponent of the comprehensive test ban treaty and the non-proliferation treaty. We continue to make this point of view very clearly known in all international fora.

We did not have a lengthy discussion on North Korea at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday. There have been discussions on several occasions previously about the situation in Iran. We are anxious to get the E3 + 3 talks going and effective and that is why a sanctions regime was agreed by the European Union with regard to Iran to encourage that country to go back to the table to engage in the E3 + 3 talks. The Iranians have come back to the table but unfortunately there has not been a very meaningful engagement so far. The approach of the European Union to Iran and its nuclear ambitions is to get it to comply with what the IEA is demanding of it.