Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation

In response to the increasing threat of the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the need for strengthening the global nonproliferation regime, especially the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), is ever growing. The ROK will continue to work with the international community to maintain and further strengthen the regime.

The ROK supports a progressive, step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament that effective, sustainable disarmament must take into account the international security environment. In this regard, the ROK welcomes the relevant initiatives including Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament which will facilitate dialogues between all parties concerned.

The ROK is committed to the goal of the early entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which has played a prominent role in strengthening the global non-proliferation regime. Based on its experience as the Chair of the 2019 Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, the ROK will continue to do its utmost to bring the Treaty into force. The ROK also supports launching the negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) at the earliest possible date and will continue to work with the international community in paving the way towards this end. Nuclear disarmament verification (NDV) is also our priority and we are actively participating in the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) and its working group meetings in order to promote cooperation and preparation for verifiable disarmament, bridging the gap between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states.

UN Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) obliges all States to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to non-State actors such as terrorists. The Security Council 1540 Committee, established pursuant to this resolution, monitors and facilitates implementation of the obligations under resolution 1540, provides assistance to States upon their request and works to strengthen coordination among diverse international nonproliferation initiatives. As the 2013-14 Chair of the 1540 Committee and the host of the Asia-Pacific regional industry conference (Wiesbaden Process) in 2016 and 2018 in Seoul, the ROK is steering the efforts by the international community to strengthen global nonproliferation regime in making a safer world. The ROK government remains committed to strengthening the implementation mechanism of the Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) and 2325 (2016), by enhancing export control and better responding to the possibility of WMD proliferation by non-State actors.

As the world's fifth largest nuclear energy country and an exporter of nuclear power reactors, the Republic of Korea is committed to the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear energy. At the same time, our active participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) activities is expected to strengthen nuclear security and our national capacity to counter terrorism. Also, as the host of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit and the chair of the 2nd International Conference on Nuclear Security of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we will continue to contribute to addressing the threat of nuclear terrorism and reinforcing the global nuclear security.

Emerging security threats

In light of the importance of tackling emerging security threats in outer space and cyberspace, the ROK is playing an active role in the process to enhance norms of responsible state behaviours in outerspace and cyberspace. Korea is participating in the relevant process to further strengthen the norms in the cyberspace including the Open-Ended Working Group and also contributing to the international community’s relevant efforts to effectively address and prevent cyber attacks through global confidence building measures and cyber capacity-building. 

North Korean Nuclear Issue

The international community will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state under any circumstances. The unified resolve of the international community to not tolerate North Korea’s repeated provocations and violations of international obligations is clearly reflected in UN Security Council Resolutions 2270 (March 2016), 2321 (November 2016), 2356 (June 2017), 2371 (August 2017), 2375 (September 2017), and 2397 (December 2017). The ROK Government will work to ensure thorough implementation of these UNSCRs and unilateral sanctions measures. Furthermore, the ROK, as a key stakeholder of the North Korean nuclear issue, will lead cooperation with international community to induce North Korea back to the path of denuclearization.

On August 15, at the National Liberation Day ceremony, President Yoon Suk-yeol proposed the Audacious Initiative for a denuclearized, peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula. The Audacious Initiative includes a set of corresponding measures encompassing political, economic and military aspects, to be provided in close coordination with the U.S. and the international community once North Korea embarks on the path of substantive denuclearization. The ROK government aims to establish sustainable peace through complete denuclearization of North Korea, and will pursue the denuclearization of North Korea and the establishment of a peace regime in a principled and consistent manner. In this vein, the ROK government will deter North Korea’s nuclear threats, dissuade Pyongyang’s nuclear development through sanctions and pressure, and pursue denuclearization of North Korea through dialogue and diplomacy.

The ROK government will maintain a robust ROK-U.S. combined defense posture against North Korea’s provocations, and based on the Audacious Initiative, will continue our unwavering diplomatic efforts aimed at compelling North Korea to cease further provocations and return to denuclearization talks. 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation Activities and Achievements within the United Nations

The Korean government has been co-hosting the annual ROK-UN Joint Conference on Disarmament and Nonproliferation with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Jeju since 2001. The joint conference has been providing opportunities for in-depth and contemporary discussions among global disarmament and nonproliferation experts on various disarmament issues. ​

Moreover, the Korean government is leading global efforts to encourage youth engagement in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. The ROK will continue to table the biannual resolution, ‘Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation’ resolution. a first of its kind. The resolution was adopted without a vote in 2019 and 2021, at the 74th and 76th General Assembly respectively, The ROK is also supporting various youth outreach initiatives as a champion for ‘Action 38. Establish a Platform for Youth Engagement’ under the Secretary General’s Agenda for Disarmament. 

Activities in the Field of Disarmament and Nonproliferation, and Multilateral Export Controls

The ROK has participated actively in the field by joining all the five international export control regimes, namely Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Zangger Committee (ZC), Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and Australia Group (AG). Building upon our contributions while committing the Chair of NSG and MTCR in 2016-2017 period, the Korean government will lead the strengthening of nonproliferation regimes on WMDs.