DPR KOREA’S RELEASE OF DETAINED FOREIGN WORKER ‘POSITIVE’ MOVE – BAN

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release of a national of the Republic of Korea who had been detained by the authorities of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 30 March, calling it a "positive" move by Pyongyang.

"As this development comes at the heels of the release of the two American journalists, he appreciates the decision of the DPRK to take positive measures based on humanitarian considerations," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement issued yesterday.

Yu Seong-Jin, who reportedly returned home on Thursday, was working in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in DPRK when he was detained.

His release comes just over a week after Laura Ling and Euna Lee were granted a special pardon from DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-il, during a visit to Pyongyang by former United States President Bill Clinton. The two journalists had been found guilty of entering DPRK illegally in March and sentenced to 12 years' hard labour.

Mr. Ban, who is currently on a visit to his native Republic of Korea, renewed his hope that a dialogue will resume at the earliest between the DPRK and the concerned parties including inter-Korean dialogue.

"He continues to support dialogue aimed at improving relations among them and resolving outstanding matters, including the nuclear issue," the statement said, adding that the UN chief will do his best to assist those endeavours.

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BAN WELCOMES RELEASE OF US JOURNALISTS FROM DPR KOREA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the release of two United States journalists by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during the visit to Pyongyang by former US President Bill Clinton.

"He appreciates the decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to release them on humanitarian considerations, responding to the repeated calls by the international community," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee arrived in the US city of Los Angeles this morning with Mr. Clinton, after DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-il, granted them a special pardon.

The two women, who work for an Internet broadcaster, Current TV, had been found guilty of entering DPRK illegally in March and sentenced to 12 years' hard labour.

Mr. Ban congratulated former President Clinton for his "successful humanitarian mission."

In addition, he reiterated his hope that dialogue will resume at the earliest possible time between the DPRK and the parties concerned towards resolving outstanding concerns including the nuclear issue, according to the statement.
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SECRETARY-GENERAL SEES POLITICAL WILL FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he perceives an increased political will for disarmament, calling on the international community to seize the momentum and take decisive action to ban nuclear testing worldwide.

The 25 May underground nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was "in clear violation of Security Council resolutions," Mr. Ban said in a video message to a meeting in Vienna of International Scientific Studies Conference, which is working on verification aspects of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

He added that the DPRK's recent test is a "direct challenge to international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts [and] underscores the urgency of ensuring the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty," which outlaws all nuclear explosions and establishes a verification regime to monitor compliance.

According to the website of the CTBT's Preparatory Commission, 148 nations have ratified the pact to date.

Despite the recent DPRK test and "other recent events, I sense increased political will for disarmament," the Secretary-General said in today's message.

Next year's Review Conference of the UN-backed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which forms the foundation of the world's nuclear non-proliferation regime, "is an important step on gauging our ability and readiness to detect nuclear explosions worldwide," he said. "I believe we are well on track."

Last month, the Conference on Disarmament – the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations – adopted a Programme of Work for its 2009 session, ending a 12-year stalemate.

The move will allow the body to negotiate and substantively discuss strategic disarmament and non-proliferation, Mr. Ban said.
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SECURITY COUNCIL TEXT ON DPR KOREA NUCLEAR TESTS EXPECTED THIS WEEK – PRESIDENT

SECURITY COUNCIL TEXT ON DPR KOREA NUCLEAR TESTS EXPECTED THIS WEEK – PRESIDENT
New York, Jun 2 2009 6:01PM
The President of the United Nations Security Council said today that the 15-member body could have a draft resolution on the recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a few days.

"I hope we will have something during the course of this week," Ambassador Baki Ilkin of Turkey, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council for June, told reporters in New York.

Last week Council members "voiced their strong opposition to and condemnation of" the nuclear test conducted by DPRK on 25 May, and started work on a resolution on the matter.

It said the test was a "clear violation" of a 2006 resolution adopted shortly after Pyongyang detonated its first nuclear device. That resolution demanded that the country "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile."

"It's a highly complex text… It takes time, and we must get it right," Mr. Ilkin said of the text currently under consideration

"What is important is that we do have this resolution that has an impact on what we want to achieve on the DPRK," he added.

Asked if there was a sense of urgency, Mr. Ilkin said, "The sense of urgency is there. Everyone is aware of the sense of urgency."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week said the tests jeopardize continuing global efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.

Mr. Ban, addressing Finland's Parliament in Helsinki, said DPRK's nuclear test and its subsequent launch of short-range missiles not only "create tension in the region," but "will also pose serious implications to peace and security on the regional and global level."

On whether any effort was made to contact representatives of the DPRK to get their side of the story, Mr. Ilkin said, "Every side knows exactly what the other side expects from one another. And in the case of Korea ... they know exactly what the international community wants."

"They want them to stop these tests," he said.
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DPR KOREA’S NUCLEAR TEST THREATENS GLOBAL DISARMAMENT EFFORTS, BAN WARNS

DPR KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST THREATENS GLOBAL DISARMAMENT EFFORTS, BAN WARNS
New York, May 27 2009 2:00PM
The recent nuclear and missile tests conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) jeopardize continuing global efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned.

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3884">Addressing Finland's Parliament in the capital, Helsinki, yesterday, Mr. Ban said that the DPRK's nuclear test on Monday, its second ever, and its subsequent launch of short-range missiles not only "create tension in the region," but "will also pose serious implications to peace and security on the regional and global level."

<"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1294">Speaking to reporters following his speech, the Secretary-General said that the Security Council, which condemned Monday's nuclear test in a press statement, can "start to take further measures corresponding to the gravity of this situation."

Joining the chorus of world leaders in speaking out against the test, he said it is in "flagrant violation" of the Council's resolution 1718 from 2006, which demanded that the country "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile," following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October of that year.

Mr. Ban reiterated his appeal to DPRK's leaders to "refrain from taking any further measures, which will deteriorate the situation, which will create tensions in the region, which will pose negative implications for the ongoing international community's efforts to curb nuclear non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as nuclear disarmament talks which are now going on between the United States and the Russian Federation."

DPRK authorities should abide by all commitments made to the international community as a member of the United Nations, he added.

As a former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and in light of the other roles he was involved in regarding the denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula, the Secretary-General said that he feels a greater "sense of responsibility about the situation" in the area.

"All these experiences, and my direct involvement, made me feel much more frustrated by the lack of control as to the denuclearization process, as had been agreed in the Six-Party joint statement," he said, referring to the September 2005 agreement – involving China, DPRK, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States – in which the DPRK committed itself to abandon nuclear weapons and rejoin the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The DPRK's only "viable option," Mr. Ban pointed out, is for it to return to the table for talks.

In his address to the Finnish Parliament, the Secretary-General also touched on climate change, calling for the Nordic nation's support in wrapping up negotiations on an ambitious new pact to slash greenhouse gas emissions at this December's UN conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He also announced that the world body will shortly be launching a Global Vulnerability Alert, with information being collected in real-time and shared with Member States to monitor the social effects of the current global economic crisis.

Before heading back to New York today, Mr. Ban met with former UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari, as well as Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade and Development and a group of Finnish non-governmental organizations.
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SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD EMERGENCY TALKS ON DPR KOREA TODAY

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD EMERGENCY TALKS ON DPR KOREA TODAY
New York, May 25 2009 10:00AM
The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency session later today to discuss the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which reportedly conducted a nuclear test on Monday.

The discussions, slated to begin at 4 p.m., will be chaired by Russia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council for the month of May.

Following the DPRK's claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006, the 15-member Council had demanded that it "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile" and imposed sanctions against the country.

Most recently, both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Council spoke out after the East Asian nation, against strong international appeals, carried out rocket launches.

They also called for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, involving DPRK, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

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SATELLITE LAUNCH BY DPR KOREA WILL THREATEN REGIONAL STABILITY, BAN WARNS

SATELLITE LAUNCH BY DPR KOREA WILL THREATEN REGIONAL STABILITY, BAN WARNS
New York, Mar 12 2009 6:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced concern about plans by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch a satellite, warning that it could jeopardize stability in the region.

The DPRK authorities have reportedly announced that they plan to launch a satellite sometime between 4 and 8 April.

"I'm concerned about DPRK's recent moves to launch a satellite or long-range missiles," Mr. Ban told a news conference in New York. "This will threaten the peace and stability in the region."

He encouraged Pyongyang to comply with Security Council resolution 1718, which demanded that the country "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile," following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006.

"I hope they will abide by the relevant Security Council resolution and return to the Six-Party Talks," he said, referring to the discussions involving DPRK, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

Mr. Ban also said he hoped for improved bilateral relations between DPRK and the Republic of Korea.
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CONSTANT VIGILANCE ON NUCLEAR RISKS CRITICAL, HEAD OF UN ATOMIC AGENCY SAYS

CONSTANT VIGILANCE ON NUCLEAR RISKS CRITICAL, HEAD OF UN ATOMIC AGENCY SAYS
New York, Mar 2 2009 4:00PM

Nuclear safety worldwide is steadily improving but the risk of accidents or malicious acts can never be eliminated and there is no room for complacency, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency said today.

"Vigilance and continuous improvement are key, both at existing nuclear facilities and at new facilities being planned in a growing number of countries, Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said as he opened the Board of Governor's meeting of the organization today in Vienna.

Introducing IAEA's Nuclear Safety Review for the Year 2008, he added "The drive to introduce, or expand the use of, nuclear power always needs to be matched by a strong commitment to safety and security as indispensable enablers of nuclear technology."

To keep up, he said, the agency must focus on improving its Incident and Emergency Centre to enhance capabilities to respond to a large accident, and must provide more effective support for Member States, especially those who have recently embarked on nuclear power projects.

According to the IAEA's current Nuclear Technology Review, 2008 was a paradoxical year for nuclear power, being the first year since 1955 in which not a single new power reactor came on line, but also seeing construction start on no fewer than ten new reactors, the highest number since 1985, the year before the Chernobyl accident.

At the same time, growth targets for nuclear power were raised in China and the Russian Federation, and the ending of restrictions on India's nuclear trade should allow an acceleration of its planned expansion of nuclear power.

In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has now received combined licence applications for 26 new reactors, while the Department of Energy submitted a formal application to build and operate the long-planned high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The number of Agency technical cooperation projects on energy planning accelerated this year from 29 to 41 and there were also significant increases in the number of projects on uranium exploration and mining and on introducing nuclear power.

In April, China will host an International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, organized by the Agency with the support of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organisation of industrialised countries.

In regard to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Mr. ElBaradei said that in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Agency has continued to monitor and verify the shutdown status of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities.

All of the fuel rods discharged from the experimental reactor remain under Agency containment and surveillance, he said.

In Iran, he said that the Agency was unable to make any progress on the remaining issues that give rise to concerns about possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme because of "lack of cooperation by Iran."

"Unless Iran implements the transparency measures and the Additional Protocol, as required by the Security Council, the Agency will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," he reiterated.

On Syria, he said that further analysis of the environmental samples taken from the Dair Alzour site has been carried out, revealing additional particles of uranium which had been produced as a result of chemical processing.

Syria has stated that the particles came from the missiles used to destroy the building, which Israel has denied, he said, noting that the Agency's current assessment is that there is a low probability that the uranium was introduced by the missiles.

In subsequent communications, he maintained, Syria's responses to some of the Agency's questions were only partial, adding that "the Agency expects Syria to provide additional information and supporting documentation about the past use and nature of the building at the Dair Alzour site, and information about procurement activities."
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