Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, May 25, 2009)

North Korea

North Korea

Let me reiterate the declaration issued following the nuclear test conducted by North Korea.

“France strongly condemns the nuclear test conducted by North Korea. It calls on North Korea to abstain from any new provocation, to implement without delay UNSCR 1718 and resume discussions within the six-party talks for the complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantling of its nuclear program.

France will consult in the coming hours with its partners in the Security Council and in the region on the consequences of this serious act by North Korea, in particular on the strengthening of sanctions.”

Q - What information do you have regarding the nuclear launch claimed by North Korea? Are you able to confirm the missile launches conducted by Pyongyang? What concrete sanctions are you recommending that the Security Council implement against the North Korean regime?

We have accurate information that has been provided by the international authorities, in particular the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, as well as national information, that demonstrates that North Korea has conducted a nuclear test.

This information is confirmed by the seismological monitoring institutes in the region. Other evaluations should be carried out to obtain further details with regard to this confirmed and unacceptable violation of UN SCR 1718.

The sanctions that are aimed at the complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, adopted under SCR 1817, must be fully implemented.

The Security Council will meet during the course of the day in New York. France is currently consulting with it partners and will stress, at the meeting, its requirement for the additional sanctions to be adopted.