Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Statement by H.E. Ambassador PARK In-kook
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea
Security Council
North Korean Artillery Attack against the Republic of Korea

19 December 2010
New York

* Check against Delivery

NOV 23 Attack on Yeonpyeong Island

Madame President,

1. Thank you for providing me with this chance to speak before the Security Council on matters relating to the current situation on the Korean peninsula, which has been triggered by the indiscriminate artillery attack by North Korea against the Republic of Korea on 23 November 2010.

2. North Korea fired around 170 artillery shells toward Yeonpyeong Island, located in the Northwestern part of the Republic of Korea. This unprovoked and pre-meditated attack against our sovereign territory resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives.

3. On the day of the attack, North Korean military authorities insisted that its attack was the reaction brought on by ROK’s military provocation aimed at invading the North. This North Korean claim is a far-fetched excuse and not based on the truth. The ROK Marine Corps conducted a regular live-fire drill on targets at the southwest of Yeonpyeong Island, in a diagonally opposite direction from North Korea. The zone of waters where the shells descended is where many exercises had previously been held.

Madame President,

4. As the Members of the Council are well aware, North Korea has an extensive track record of serious violations against international norms and principles. It has gone against global non-proliferation efforts by conducting two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, and is now suspected to be pursuing a uranium enrichment program in violation of Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874 respectively. In addition, North Korea attacked and sunk the Republic of Korea naval ship Cheonan on 26 March of this year.

5. The recent North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island is a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the Korean Armistice Agreement, and the agreement of non-aggression signed between the two Koreas in 1991. Furthermore, the attack clearly shows the total disregard by North Korea of the Presidential Statement of the Security Council of the UN, issued on 9 July which “underscored the importance of preventing further such attacks or hostilities against the ROK.” As such, the North Korean attack is a direct and serious challenge to the authority and integrity of the United Nations system, and the Security Council in particular.  Indeed, North Korea’s incessant defiance shows that it is turning a deaf ear to the voice of the international community.

Madame President,

6. In the aftermath of the North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island, the international community around the world has issued statements or made official remarks, either condemning or expressing serious concern over the attack.

7. North Korea must be held accountable for this deplorable action, which is a grave threat to the peace and stability in the region and beyond. In this regard, the Republic of Korea calls upon the Members of the Security Council to demonstrate its firm will to deal with this serious challenge. Namely, we urge the Council to express its strong condemnation of the North Korean attack, and sternly warn North Korea that any further provocations against the Republic of Korea will not be tolerated. Only this kind of clear-cut message will deter North Korea from continuously engaging in reckless behavior under the shelter of impunity.

Firing Exercises to be Conducted by the ROK

Madame President,

8. Taking this opportunity, let be briefly clarify the characteristics of the firing exercise that the Republic of Korea is planning to conduct in the waters near Yeonpyeong Island.

9. The ROK Marines stationed in Yeonpyeong Island are scheduled to conduct a firing exercise southwest of the island in the waters of the Republic of Korea, sometime between the 18th and 21st of December. The final timing will be determined pending weather conditions and other relevant factors.

10. This firing drill is a routine, rightful, and defensive exercise which has been carried out on a regular basis over a long period of time during the past several decades.

11. The exercise will be conducted openly according to normal procedures. A prior notification of the firing exercise will be issued through the maritime alert page of the website of the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration.

12. In order to confirm that our firing exercise will be justly conducted in accordance with the Korean Armistice Agreement, representatives of the Military Armistice Commission and the United Nations Command will be present at the site to observe this exercise.

Thank you for your kind attention.