Statement by Brazil in the Security Council Consultations on DPRK

Madam President,

Brazil welcomes the initiative of holding this meeting specifically to address the issue of nuclear proliferation in the DPRK. Conducting consultations in this format sends the unequivocal message to the international community that the Council will address any violation of its resolutions with the necessary determination.

Brazil is fully committed to the promotion of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of atomic energy. We condemn the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances. the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons are unacceptable and unjustifiable, making them incompatible with international humanitarian law. The same applies to nuclear tests.

We are uncompromising defenders of International Law, of the UN Charter and of the obligations arising from it. We therefore advocate strict observance of Security Council resolutions. The launch of a ballistic and allegedly hypersonic missile by the DPRK last Wednesday constitutes a flagrant violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, with potentially destabilizing effects for regional and international peace and security. This Council has decided - and reaffirmed it several times - that the DPRK shall not conduct further launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any other provocation; shall immediately suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on all missile launches; shall immediately abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and immediately cease all related activities; and shall abandon any other existing weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

Brazil condemns North Korea’s repeated actions in breach of relevant Security Council resolutions and urges the DPRK to fully implement the decisions taken by this body, to which it is bound as a United Nations Member State. We also call on the DPRK to return to the NPT and to the IAEA safeguards, essential steps for the realization of the complete, transparent, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

We support efforts to find a political solution for the North Korean file and encourage the DPRK to return to the negotiating table without any preconditions.

Finally, Madam President, I would like to point out that Brazil has been paying close attention to the worrisome situation faced by the north korean people. Brazil commends the work carried out by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other humanitarian entities, as well as that of the 1718 Committee, whose diligent and expeditious analysis of exemption requests have made it possible to alleviate the negative impact of sanctions on the civilian population. Brazil stands ready to contribute with initiatives that can bring relief to the population in the DPRK and promote lasting peace in the Korean Peninsula.

I thank you.