UNSC meeting on Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Ambassador Harold Agyeman

Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
July 13, 2023

 

AT A MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE LAUNCH OF AN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE BY THE DPRK

 

I thank you for giving me the floor, Madam President.

I also thank ASG Khaled Khiari for his briefing to the Council and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representatives of the brotherly countries of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We note this to be the first time since 2017, to have a representative of the DPRK in our meetings on this subject. We hope that this engagement would facilitate the efforts of the Council to ensure a peaceful Korean Peninsula.

 

Madam President,
The Council’s meeting today is against the backdrop of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula following the test of a Hwasong-18 ICBM, which analyst estimate flew for 74 minutes, the longest ever flight time for a North Korean missile.

This act by the DPRK is against its international obligations as expressed in multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. We deplore the latest launch, which has come on the back of several others, and we call on the DPRK to fully comply with its international obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions by refraining from further launches with ballistic missile technology.

 

Madam President,
We are also concerned about the risk of military confrontation, including as a result of unintended effects or a miscalculation of actions. The escalating tensions and threats of military actions could lead to devastating consequences for the Peninsula, and for international peace and security. We therefore urge all concerned parties to take immediate and concrete steps to deescalate the tensions on the Korean peninsula.

We reiterate that a principled and pragmatic approach based on diplomacy, dialogue and trust-building is what is needed to incrementally foster conditions that allow for constructive engagements between the DPRK and other major parties on its weapons programme.

We underscore the need for the resumption of constructive and credible dialogue between concerned parties and the DPRK to find an enduring, comprehensive, and peaceful solution to the issues on the Korean Peninsula and in a manner that recognises the regional and global security concerns, as well as those of the parties. The envisaged and acceptable solution cannot anticipate a State with nuclear capabilities on the Korean Peninsula nor the possibility of there being a nuclear arms race in the region.

 

Madam President,
We must find better ways of sustaining the Council’s unity on this matter. Where difficult options have to be embraced, we should be bold to accept them because time may not be on the side of this Council if we wait too long. Our responsibility is to steer the region away from the path of catastrophe and preserve the peace and lives on the Peninsula.

 

I thank you for your attention.