Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has received a formal request from members of the Cabinet to visit North Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47736/17]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it is appropriate for members of the Cabinet to visit North Korea for peace talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47737/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

The Government position remains that we do not support any parliamentary delegation visiting North Korea at this time, given the sensitivities involved.

Ireland fully supports the EU policy on the DPRK and the international sanctions regime against North Korea as outlined in multiple UN Security Council Resolutions. Ireland supported the adoption of additional EU measures against DPRK by the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 October. More recently, the European Council on 19 October re-affirmed its resolve to implement the sanctions regime, and a commitment was made to consider further responses in close consultation with partners.

I have not received a formal request from members of the Cabinet to visit DPRK. I have set out my position on the matter in my press statement of 3 November and as soon as their schedules permit, my Department will be happy to arrange a briefing on DPRK for Ministerial colleagues.