Security Council Press Statement on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Long-Range Launch

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño (Venezuela):

The members of the Security Council held urgent consultations to address the serious situation arising from the launch using ballistic missile technology conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 7 February 2016.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this launch.  The members of the Security Council underscored that this launch, as well as any other DPRK launch that uses ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, contributes to the DPRK’s development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and is a serious violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013) and 2094 (2013).  They reaffirmed that a clear threat to international peace and security continued to exist, especially in the context of the nuclear test.

The members of the Security Council restated their intent to develop significant measures in a new Security Council resolution in response to the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 6 January 2016, in grave violation of the DPRK’s international obligations.

The members of the Security Council also recalled that they have previously expressed their determination to take “further significant measures” in the event of another DPRK launch.  In line with this commitment and the gravity of this most recent violation, the members of the Security Council will adopt expeditiously a new Security Council resolution with such measures in response to these dangerous and serious violations.

The members of the Security Council expressed their commitment to continue working toward a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation leading to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.