M72 16 June 1994

NORTH KOREAN WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC  ----------------------- - ENERGY AGENCY ----------------- *

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, said from New York today that  Australia deeply regretted the decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea  (DPRK) to withdraw from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"North Korea's withdrawal adds to international concerns about the direction of its  nuclear program, and casts further doubt on the DPRK's stated commitment to finding  a resolution to the nuclear issue through negotiation", Senator Evans said.

North Korea has confirmed its withdrawal from the IAEA, with effect from 13 June  1994. The move followed the adoption of a resolution on 10 June by the IAEA Board  of Governors which called on the DPRK to cooperate fully with the Agency in the  implementation of its nuclear safeguards obligations. The Board, which is currently  under Australian chairmanship, also decided to suspend non-medical technical

assistance to the DPRK until such cooperation was forthcoming.

Senator Evans stressed that the DPRK's withdrawal from the IAEA did not affect its  safeguards obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). "The DPRK  remains a member of the NPT, and has an obligation under that treaty to allow

international safeguards to be applied to all its nuclear activities and facilities", he said.  "We call upon it to extend full cooperation to the IAEA in implementing its safeguards  agreement".

"Australia has for some time been seriously concerned at North Korea's refusal to  allow full access for IAEA inspectors. Uncertainty about the nature of its nuclear  activities is a source of instability in the Asia-Pacific region, and undermines the  interest of all countries in the region in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons".

Senator Evans warned that the international community would have little choice but to  take stronger action, including through the United Nations Security Council, if the  DPRK did not display a more constructive position.

"It is in everyone's interests, not least the DPRK, for it to reconsider its decision to  withdraw from the IAEA and to return to the negotiating table", he said.

NEW YORK

