Statement by H.E. Ambassador SHINO Mitsuko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to then United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Open Briefing on “Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”

Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank ASG Miroslav Jenča for his briefing.  
 
Mr. President, 
 
It was only a month ago that we were here to discuss the unlawful launch of an ICBM by North Korea which endangered vessels, exposed aircraft in the area to great risk, and terrified Japanese citizens. It is my greatest regret that we must come to this Chamber again to discuss the same situation. Once again, North Korea has launched an ICBM toward us, which landed just 200km from Japan. North Korea also launched another ballistic missile on March 19 (local time).
 
Japan strongly condemns these unlawful and outrageous acts.
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues,
 
Let us recall what we have been working on. The very name of the agenda item makes it clear; we are here to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. This is why the Security Council decided that North Korea shall abandon all nuclear weapons programs. This is why the Security Council decided that North Korea shall not launch ballistic missiles or other delivery means for nuclear weapons.
 
North Korea is in violation of these Security Council resolutions. North Korea even publicly states its intention to exponentially increase its nuclear arsenal. The ICBM launched this time is also estimated to have the capability to hit all of Asia, all of Europe, all of North America including New York, all of Africa and even part of South America. Indeed, North Korea has just publicly announced the launch on March 19 (local time) as an exercise of tactical nuclear attacks. North Korea threatens Japan, the region and beyond with its nuclear arsenal and delivery means.
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues,
 
Japan does not believe that this Council should allow North Korea to take hostage the entire international community. Instead, this Council should prevent that. Let us not get ourselves bogged down in political rhetoric. This is not about finding a solution to an equal-footed conflict among parties. It is about preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and standing against the threat of nuclear weapons. I urge all Council members to join the call for nuclear non-proliferation and not to provide a loophole for North Korea.
 
Some people argue that we are trapped in a “negative action-reaction cycle.” This is simply not true. North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons and their means of delivery in accordance with their five-year military plan. We should not be deceived by their attempts to justify their ambition to pursue nuclear weapons. We should be clear-eyed about this.
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues,
 
The only vicious cycle in which all of us here in the Council have been trapped is a “negative action-inaction cycle”. This Council has long failed to act in response to provocative actions by North Korea, and North Korea has taken advantage of the Council’s silence and felt free to steadily proceed with its unlawful WMD programs. It is high time to end this “negative action-inaction cycle”. Let us fulfill the heavy responsibility entrusted on us by all the Member States of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security.
 
In this regard, Japan reiterates that we strongly support the PRST which has been proposed by the United States as a step forward while standing ready to work with colleagues to adopt more robust actions.
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues,
 
Where do we stand: on the side of the rule breaker or on the side of the rule keeper? We know the correct answer. Let’s do our job.
 
I thank you, Mr. President.