주유엔 대한민국 대표부

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Joonkook HWANG  

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea

Security Council, Adoption “Maintenance of Peace and Security”
(1718 Committee Panel of Experts Mandate Renewal)

New York, 28 March 2024                                                          

< Before voting >

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Republic of Korea will vote in favor of the resolution, and calls on all Members of the Security Council to do the same.

The draft resolution presented to us is the best compromise of the views exchanged during the series of negotiations. In this regard, the Republic of Korea highly appreciates the efforts of the United States for professionally drafting the resolution and leading the negotiations as the penholder.

Unfortunately, what should have been a simple technical roll-over turned into complicated political negotiations.

The Panel of Experts on DPRK sanctions has been faithfully carrying out its duty for the past fifteen years. All of us in this Chamber acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and hard work of the Panel.

The biannual reports by the Panel of Experts provided all UN Member States with valuable information regarding sanctions implementations and violations. The Panel also assisted the 1718 Committee in playing a crucial role in providing capacity building for better sanctions implementation.

Through close collaboration and cooperation among independent experts, who work in an independent and professional manner, the Panel guided us through the complex web of the DPRK sanctions regime, putting differences arising from geopolitical tensions behind.

As everyone in this Chamber is well aware, the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile program is one of the most serious threats to the global non-proliferation regime. Faced with the DPRK’s continued provocations, accelerated advancement of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and increasingly sophisticated sanctions evasion, the role of the Panel has become all the more essential. Failure to adopt this resolution will result in the abolishment of the Panel, which is something all Council Members, in particular the P5, should avoid, by all means.

Dear Colleagues,

At this moment, the international community is watching the Security Council. If we are truly to act on behalf of all UN Member States and carry out our duty in accordance with the UN Charter, we have to adopt this resolution.

As such, we once again urge all Security Council Members to vote yes on this important resolution. Let us stand united for the sake of nuclear non-proliferation and international peace and security.

I thank you, Mr. President.      

# # #

< After voting>

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Republic of Korea voted in favor of the resolution for the reasons that I explained before the vote.

Regrettably, the resolution was not adopted. The 1718 Committee Panel of Experts has been taken hostage by one Permanent Member, the Russian Federation.

As Russia puts its blind self-centeredness over the Council’s collective responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the DPRK Panel of Experts, one of the Council’s most vibrant and significant subsidiary organs, has been forced to cease its work.

As we all know, the Panel of Experts has provided valuable information concerning the implementation of sanctions against the world’s most serious nuclear proliferator and offered well-documented recommendations to all UN Member States so that they can better implement their obligations.

It also investigated possible sanctions violations and evasion cases so that Member States could address any non-compliance accordingly. 

The original draft resolution was a technical one. It was meant to simply renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts. On the other hand, the proposal previously made by Russia included a one-year sunset clause on the entire DPRK sanctions regime per se tied to the mandate renewal of the Panel.

Russia employed an all-too-familiar and obvious tactic, by insisting on a completely unacceptable conditions without any room for compromise, Russia elicited objections which they gladly took as an excuse to veto.

This is outrageous and makes no sense at all, given the continued and accelerated advancement of the North Korean nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang has been openly denouncing the authority of the Security Council and pursuing an increasingly dangerous and aggressive nuclear policy, in particular targeting the Republic of Korea.

At this moment, Russia seems to be more interested in embracing or encouraging the DPRK for its provision of munitions and ballistic missiles for the conduct of its war in Ukraine at the expense of nuclear non-proliferation regime and the proper functioning of the Security Council.

There can be no justification for disbanding the guardians of the UN’s DPRK sanctions regime consisting of multiple resolutions adopted unanimously by this Council. This is almost comparable to destroying a CCTV to avoid being caught red-handed.

Today, we witnessed yet another setback in the authority of this august body, as well as in the international non-proliferation regime. A Permanent Member of the Security Council and depository of the NPT, completely  —completely— abandoned its responsibility.

Nevertheless, the Republic of Korea will continue its efforts in collaboration with many like-minded countries towards the goal of CVID —complete, verifiable, and irreversible— denuclearization of the DPRK. We will find our way and expect cooperation from other Council Members and all UN Member States.

I thank you, Mr. President.

# # #