

MEDIA RELEASE

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MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

ALEXANDER DOWNER

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23 July 1998

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AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE KOREAN PENINSULA 
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (KEDO)

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I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government will contribute 
a further A$2 mi llion in support of international efforts to 
reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula.

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The funds will support the Korean Peninsula Energy 
Development Organization (KEDO), an international consortium led by 
the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

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The Government regards the Korean Peninsula as a potential 
major security flashpoint and views KEDO as making a valuable contribution 
to maintaining stability on the Peninsula and in North East Asia more 
generally.

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KEDO has particular importance as the only mechanism 
in existence involving genuine cooperation between the Democratic People’s 
Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the rest of the international community, 
including the Republic of Korea. For this reason it plays an important 
preventative diplomacy and confidence-building role.

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Support for KEDO, which was established under the 
terms of the Agreed Framework signed by the United States and the DPRK 
in October 1994, is also consistent with Australia’s strong commitment 
to global nuclear non-proliferation.

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In return for a commitment from the DPRK to freeze 
its nuclear weapons program under the supervision of the International 
Atomic Energy Agency, KEDO is helping the DPRK meet its energy needs 
by providing two lightwater reactors and 500,000 tonnes of heavy fuel 
oil annually until the reactors are operational.

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The Australian Government’s contribution will assist 
in the provision of heavy fuel oil used for electricity generation and 
heating. Australia has previously provided $10.8 million to the KEDO 
heavy fuel oil program since June 1995.

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KUALA LUMPUR

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Media Contacts:

Innes Willox (Minister’s Office) (02) 2777 500.

Keith Scott (AusAID) (02) 6206 4971

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Media releases and speeches are available from   AusAID  
via the Internet.

http://www.ausaid.gov.au

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