NEW YORK CITY (ALETIHAD)
His Excellency Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations (UN) in New York, delivered the UAE statement at the UN Security Council (UNSC) Meeting on Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, emphasising the need to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to resume peace talks and curb the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme.
His Excellency welcomed the participation of the representatives of the Republic of Korea and DPRK.
He expressed the UAE’s strong condemnation of another launch of a military reconnaissance satellite by the DPRK using ballistic missile technology, stressing that those actions go against Security Council’s resolutions.
“Not only does this launch blatantly defy Security Council resolutions, it follows a record-high number of similar violations over the past two years,” he said.
Continuing his address, Abushahab expressed concern that these actions increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and undermine the global non-proliferation regime.
“We strongly urge the DPRK to desist from its activities, which are a flagrant violation of international law,” His Excellency stressed.
Emphasising that the DPRK’s satellite launch violates the Council’s prohibition of using ballistic missile technology, he stressed the suspicion that the satellite launch may have been used to conduct an illicit long-range ballistic missile technology test.
“It is imperative that these provocative actions come to an end,” Abushahab urged.
His Excellency expressed the UAE’s call to immediately cease all launches and testing that involve the use of ballistic missile technology.
“Even though the authorities in Pyongyang issued early warnings to Japan, such warnings do not confer legitimacy to launches. We therefore call on the DPRK to adhere to international law and Security Council resolutions and refrain from conducting future illegal launches,” he said.
Moreover, Abushahab urged the Council to “send a strong unified message to the DPRK”, noting that it should condemn such actions and encourage dialogue.
He reiterated the UAE’s position that diplomacy and de-escalation is the only path to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, stressing the need for restraint.
“Engagement – not isolation – is the only way forward. The calls for dialogue have been repeated many times and it is time for the DPRK to heed them,” Abushahab added.
Discussing the humanitarian situation in the DPRK, His Excellency said that it is still a source of concern, citing recent UN reports indicating that 45% of the population, roughly 12 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
“As the country gradually reopens its borders, we emphasise the urgency of resuming on-the-ground humanitarian activities by international humanitarian agencies. We hope that the DPRK will prioritise their return to the country, including that of the UN Resident Coordinator,” His Excellency underlined.
Ending his address, he stressed the need for achieving a “complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of the DPRK”, urging the country to return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
He called on the Council members to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to resume peace talks and to deter and curb the DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. “Unified action today will lead to a safer tomorrow on the Korean Peninsula,” he added.