Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

497. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action his Department has taken in respect of the tensions in the Korean peninsula and the threat to civilians in Japan posed by ongoing North Korean missile tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38096/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am deeply worried by the deterioration of the situation on the Korean peninsula. North Korea’s recent actions have raised tensions and present a real threat to peace and security in the entire North East Asia region and beyond. I have expressed my condemnation of these actions in recent statements, including after North Korea’s ballistic missile test which flew over Japanese territory on 29 August 2017, and most recently following North Korea’s sixth nuclear test conducted on 3 September 2017.

These actions are an unacceptable and provocative violation of North Korea’s international obligations not to conduct such tests and I have unreservedly condemned such actions. I have called on North Korea to abandon its programmes to develop ballistic missiles, nuclear capabilities and weapons of mass destruction in a manner that is complete, verifiable and irreversible.

The latest nuclear test highlights the need for immediate entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). I have urged all states who have not already done so to ratify the Treaty without delay so that the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture can be strengthened and the global norm against testing reinforced.

Urgent engagement on nuclear disarmament by all stakeholders is now needed. I have called on the North Korean authorities to cease all nuclear testing and re-engage with the Six Party Talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, immediately and without pre-conditions.

Ireland strongly supports the international sanctions regime against North Korea, and has called for greater emphasis to be placed on effective implementation of the sanctions regime. New sanctions against North Korea, including additional EU autonomous restrictive measures, should not be ruled out.