PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, COOPERATION IN DISASTER PREVENTION AMONG THEMES OF FOURTH COMMITTEE"S OUTER SPACE DEBATE

Press Release
GA/SPD/168/

PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, COOPERATION IN DISASTER PREVENTION AMONG THEMES OF FOURTH COMMITTEE’S OUTER SPACE DEBATE

CORRECTION

On page 7 of Press Release GA/SPD/168 issued 25 October, the statement of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should read as follows:

RI YONG IL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said that the holding of UNISPACE III had been a significant occasion. However, the efforts of developing countries to participate in the peaceful use of outer space were facing serious constraints. Some forces were questioning and making an issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’s launching of an artificial satellite. The monopoly of space activities by a few countries was among the causes of stagnation and debt accumulation affecting the developing countries.

He said the ability of all countries to explore and make use of space must be ensured. Space was the world’s common heritage and its exploration was the right of all countries, large or small. The more all countries could make use of outer space exploration, the more they would all move forward. But the more restricted poor countries were, the more marginalized they would become.

Countries carrying out space activities should ensure that the relevant technologies were available to all, instead of monopolizing and trading in them commercially. Member States should act to ban the militarization of outer space. At present there were not only satellites for economic purposes, but also satellites with military uses that threatened the sovereignty of some countries. The Legal Subcommittee would have to pay greater attention to codifying provisions against the militarization of outer space.

* *** *