BY
H.E. MR. AMARA S. M. SOWA
CHARGE D’AFFAIRES A.I./ DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. President,
I thank you for convening this open briefing on the critical issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Let me also thank the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Mr. Mohammed Khaled Khiari for his briefing.
Sierra Leone thanks France, Japan, Malta the Republic of Korea, the UK, and the US for calling for this important briefing and we look forward to engaging in constructive discussions aimed at enhancing international peace and security.
This open briefing on the recent nuclear activities in the DPRK, presents a timely and significant opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to advancing the goals of disarmament and non-proliferation, especially following the high-level briefing on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation held in March 2024.
It also speaks to the current conundrum that the council finds itself in terms of finding a viable solution that will replace the report that the dissolved Panel of Experts used to provide for the benefit of all council members, with a comprehensive update on the activities of the DPRK and its nuclear weapons program.
It therefore reinforces the serious need for the progress on the ongoing efforts to re-establish the mandate of the Panel of Experts and for the Council to remain seized of this developing situation.
Mr. President,
We express serious concern with the escalation of missile capabilities by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and condemn the recent launch of a satellite into space.
The recent attempted satellite launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) underscores the ongoing deep concern surrounding their ballistic missile program. Such actions continue to raise the alarm regarding regional stability, arms proliferation, and compliance with UN resolutions, and is seen as a blatant violation of UN resolutions prohibiting the DPRK from ballistic missile tests.
We therefore restate the importance of diplomatic efforts to address security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and promote denuclearization initiatives.
This recent launch adds to the already tense atmosphere on the Korean peninsula and increased tensions that could lead to further military actions, a diplomatic stalemate and even the unthinkable which is nuclear catastrophe.
I These heightened threat perceptions makes it an imperative that the Security Council takes decisive steps to address these challenges and mitigate the risks of military activities in the region.
Sierra Leone calls on the DPRK to engage bilaterally and multilaterally to unequivocally commit to transparent, complete, verifiable, irreversible, and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.
Mr. President,
Additionally, Sierra Leone welcomed the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. However, we are concerned that after 28 years of its establishment, the CTBT is yet to enter into force. The CTBT offers hope of halting further modernization and increase in vertical and horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons, thereby contributing to the goal of nuclear disarmament.
Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles of disarmament, non-proliferation, and international peace and security.
To advance this, we wish to emphasize the goal of this Council and the international community, and the sanctions measures currently in placed in the DPRK, and to echo strongly the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner and for the return of the DPRK to the Non-proliferation Treaty and IAEA safeguards.
We recognize the paramount importance of concerted global efforts to address the challenges posed by nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Thank you.
