SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY LIFTING OF NUCLEAR PROGRAMME FREEZE

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY LIFTING OF NUCLEAR PROGRAMME FREEZE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is concerned about the recent decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to lift the freeze on its nuclear facilities maintained pursuant to the 1994 USA-DPRK Agreed Framework and to resume the operation and construction of nuclear facilities to generate electricity.

The Secretary-General urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to comply with its safeguards agreement, cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and not to undertake any unilateral act that might complicate the IAEA's ability to carry out its responsibilities under the IAEA-DPRK safeguards agreement.

The Secretary-General calls upon all concerned to cooperate to resolve the complex situation through peaceful means, and strongly urges the continuation of international efforts to reach a positive outcome of the situation, consistent with international norms.”

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