 | The Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, USUN PRESS RELEASE # 286(06), Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations |
Three months ago, this Council sent an unequivocal and unambiguous message to the DPRK: 1) suspend your ballistic missile program; 2) stop your procurement of materials related to weapons of mass destruction; and 3) verifiably dismantle your nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs. Security Council Resolution 1695 also demonstrated to North Korea that the best way to improve the livelihood of its people and end its international isolation is to stop playing games of brinkmanship, comply with the demands of the Security Council, return to the Six-Party Talks, and implement the terms of the Joint Statement from the last round of those talks.
Sadly, the regime in Pyongyang chose a disturbingly different path. It answered the Security Council’s demands with yet another direct threat to international peace and security, proclaiming to the world that it has conducted a successful nuclear weapons test. And with its actions, the North Korean regime has once again broken its word, provoked an international crisis, and denied its people the opportunity for a better life.
Mr. President, three months ago the United States counselled the members of this body to be prepared for further action in the event that North Korea failed to make the strategic decision to give up its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction [WMD] and comply with Resolution 1695. We are pleased that the Security Council is united in condemning the actions by the regime in Pyongyang and taking clear, firm and punitive action in passing this resolution, thus proving to North Korea and others that the Security Council is prepared to meet threats to international security with swift resolve.
This resolution demands action. Acting under Chapter VII, it has imposed punitive sanctions on Kim Jong Il's regime. It has broad provisions deciding that Member States shall not engage in any trade with the DPRK not only for items which could contribute to their nuclear weapons and other WMD programs, but for high-end military equipment as well. The United States will rely on a number of control lists already in place as a baseline to implement the decision by the Security Council to ban trade with North Korea in WMD-related materials including lists published by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Australia Group. To further this goal, this Resolution also prevents the travel of government officials of the DPRK known to be involved in their WMD efforts.
This resolution also targets other illicit activities of the regime in Pyongyang, and includes a ban on trade in luxury goods. It targets the way Kim Jong Il finances his weapons of mass destruction programs through criminal activities like money laundering, counterfeiting, and selling of narcotics. It imposes a binding requirement on all member states to take action against those activities and freeze the assets of entities and individuals of the DPRK involved. The resolution also provides for a regime of inspections to ensure compliance with its provisions, building on the existing work of the Proliferation Security Initiative.
The resolution imposes other strict demands on the DPRK. It requires Pyongyang not to conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile. It demands that North Korea abandon all of its WMD programs, including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
It is our understanding that the DPRK's full compliance with this resolution and the successful resumption of the Six-Party talks would lead to the Council acting to lift the measures imposed by this Resolution. At the same time, we need to be prepared if North Korea again decides to ignore the Security Council, and continue its pursuit of WMD and the means to deliver them. This is why it is important that the United States and other Member States have the opportunity at any point in time to strengthen measures against North Korea and return to the Council for further action.
As we pursue a diplomatic solution, we are also reassuring our allies in the region that America remains committed to their security. In response to North Korea's provocation, we will seek to increase our defense cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defense to protect against North Korean aggression, and cooperation to prevent North Korea from importing or exporting nuclear or missile technologies.
Our goals remain clear: peace and security in Northeast Asia, and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. We will support our allies in the region, we will work within the Security Council, and together we will ensure that North Korea faces serious consequences if it continues down its current path.
Let me end with a final point. This resolution provides a carve-out for humanitarian relief efforts in North Korea. The reason is clear: the concern of the Security Council is with the regime in Pyongyang, not the starving and suffering people of North Korea. We hope that North Korea implements and complies fully with the provisions of this Resolution, in the hope that its people can have a brighter future.
###, United Nations Press Release, New York, October 14, 2006
 | Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, on non-proliferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [Webcast: Archived Video - 7 minutes] |
 | Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of the United States of America, Ambassador John Bolton, on non-proliferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [Webcast: Archived Video - 9 minutes] |
 | Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of China, Ambassador Wang Guangya, on non-proliferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [Webcast: Archived Video - 2 minute] |
 | Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by by the President of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of Japan, Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, on non-profiferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.[Webcast: Archived Video - 4 minutes ] |
 | Media Stakeout: Informal comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ambassador Mr. Pak Gil Yon, on non-profiferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.[Webcast: Archived Video - 1 minute ] |
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Technorati Tags: State Department and Kim Jong Il or North Korea and Ban Ki-Moon, or United Nations Security Council and Democratic People's Republic of Korea or Condoleezza Rice, or nuclear weapon test and sanctions,
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