10-Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from the Minister of Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs
During our telephone conversation on 16 October,
I undertook to update you in writing on where things currently
stand on the DPRK nuclear issue. As you know, on 14 October the
UN Security Council adopted a strong unanimous Resolution (UNSCR
1718) under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to the DPRK's provocative
and irresponsible nuclear test on 9 October.
We are very pleased that the Security Council
took quick, decisive and unanimous action to send a strong signal
to the Government of the DPRK that the international community
will not tolerate its irresponsible and provocative act.
This Resolution condemns the nuclear test of
9 October, demands that the DPRK retrains from further test or
ballistic missile launch by the DPRK and decides that the DPRK
shall eliminate its nuclear, WMD and ballistic missile programmes
in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The Resolution
backs these demands by imposing sanctions, and encourages a return
to the Six Party Talks (OPT) without preconditions.
The sanction package includes a ban on the export
to DPRK of nuclear and ballistic-missile goods and technologies,
a ban on the export of arms to DPRK a ban on technical assistance
and advice related to all these items and a ban on the export
by DPRK of proliferation-sensitive goods and technologies. The
sanctions also provide for the freezing of assets of individuals
and entities supporting DPRK's nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes
and a travel ban on those individuals.
I should make clear these sanctions are targeted
at stopping the WMD and missile programmes and changing the behaviour
of the leadership in Pyongyang. They are not directed at the people
of North Korea who are already suffering greatly as a result of
the regimes policies.
The requirements of the Resolution are clear.
We are in discussion with our partners in New York and the EU
how best to implement these measures. We want the DPRK to comply
with the Resolution and return to the Six Party Talks. If it does
and complies fully with its provisions and if the Talks resume
successfully, we would expect the Council to lift the measures
imposed by the Resolution.
I will keep you updated on further significant
developments.
Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP
Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs
18 October 2006
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES:
GIBRALTAR
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