Joint Statement Delivered by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN Security Council Stakeout on the DPRK’s Ballistic Missile Launches
2023/2/20
(The following is a joint statement delivered by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative of the United States to the United Nations, on behalf of Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.)
Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, strongly condemn the DPRK’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch of February 18 as well as two missile launches on February 19.
This is the fourth ballistic missile test this year, the ninth test of an ICBM since the beginning of 2022. This launch was reckless and it was dangerous. Each of these launches has constituted a violation of multiple Security Council resolutions.
This weekend’s ICBM launch poses a threat not only to the region but also to international peace and security. In particular, it demonstrably undermines nuclear nonproliferation across the globe.
The United States and ten countries remain fully committed to diplomacy and continue to call on the DPRK to return to dialogue. But we will not stay silent as the DPRK advances its unlawful nuclear and missile capabilities, threatening international peace and security.
We urge all UN Member States to join us in condemning the DPRK’s irresponsible behavior. We echo the Council’s consistent demand that the DPRK comply with its obligations under numerous UN Security Council resolutions, abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner, and engage constructively in diplomacy.
All UN Member States must fully implement and enforce the relevant Security Council resolutions to help resolve the dangerous tensions on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful diplomacy.
It is time the Security Council spoke again with one voice against the DPRK’s declared efforts to develop an unlawful nuclear arsenal that would pose a grave danger to the world. Council silence has not led to restraint in Pyongyang. In fact, it has emboldened the DPRK authorities. This latest ICBM launch is a test of the Council’s resolve and purpose, and we must now act.
Thank you.
Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, strongly condemn the DPRK’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch of February 18 as well as two missile launches on February 19.
This is the fourth ballistic missile test this year, the ninth test of an ICBM since the beginning of 2022. This launch was reckless and it was dangerous. Each of these launches has constituted a violation of multiple Security Council resolutions.
This weekend’s ICBM launch poses a threat not only to the region but also to international peace and security. In particular, it demonstrably undermines nuclear nonproliferation across the globe.
The United States and ten countries remain fully committed to diplomacy and continue to call on the DPRK to return to dialogue. But we will not stay silent as the DPRK advances its unlawful nuclear and missile capabilities, threatening international peace and security.
We urge all UN Member States to join us in condemning the DPRK’s irresponsible behavior. We echo the Council’s consistent demand that the DPRK comply with its obligations under numerous UN Security Council resolutions, abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner, and engage constructively in diplomacy.
All UN Member States must fully implement and enforce the relevant Security Council resolutions to help resolve the dangerous tensions on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful diplomacy.
It is time the Security Council spoke again with one voice against the DPRK’s declared efforts to develop an unlawful nuclear arsenal that would pose a grave danger to the world. Council silence has not led to restraint in Pyongyang. In fact, it has emboldened the DPRK authorities. This latest ICBM launch is a test of the Council’s resolve and purpose, and we must now act.
Thank you.