Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Thank you Madam President,

I also wish to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing.

Let me make a couple of points on behalf of my delegation:

One – Slovenia strongly condemns the October 31 launch of an Intercontinental ballistic missile by the DPRK. This is a blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. DPRK has demonstrated numerous times it simply does not care about Security Council actions. A country who illegally developed nuclear weapons and has demonstrated with the latest launch that it can deliver them virtually anywhere in the northern hemisphere.

This is a clear and provocative threat to peace and security in the region and worldwide. Security Council resolutions are binding and must be implemented. They are not guidelines that can be unilaterally dropped when they do not fit the contemporary political agenda. DPRK must ensure their implementation, abandon its WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and cease all related activities.

Two – Slovenia is gravely concerned with the trajectory the North Korean non-proliferation issue is taking. Throughout the last year, the situation grew consistently worse: the DPRK showed ever-greater disregard for rules and has continued with ballistic missiles tests and satellite launches; the work of the 1718 Panel of Experts was singlehandedly put to an end with a veto; evidence of DPRK-origin ballistic missile use in Ukraine surfaced; deeply concerning statements about DPRK’s nuclear status were uttered; and to top everything off, reports of DPRK troops deployment to Europe emerged.

We desperately need a change of course. It would be too easy to point a finger just at one member of this Council whose actions have been particularly damaging to the situation. However, I am looking at all the Council members here – it is our collective responsibility to uphold international peace and security, and DPRK’s activities are clearly undermining it.

Madam President,

The status quo we are experiencing is conducive to nothing but the expansion of the DPRK’s illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. It is our duty to employ all diplomatic means to bring the DPRK back to the negotiating table. It is high time for DPRK to cease its provocative activities and return to dialogue and diplomacy. There is no legitimate alternative to this. The sooner we all realise this, the faster we will be able to comprehensively address the imperative of DPRK’s denuclearisation.

Thank you Madam President.

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