Latest developments
North Korea is the only state to have tested a nuclear weapon in the 21st century. North Korea abstained on the UN General Assembly resolutions on the TPNW in 2018 and 2019, and voted against in 2020. In 2017, North Korea stated in First Committee of the UN General Assembly that it 'consistently supports the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the efforts for denuclearization of the entire world. However as long as the U.S. who constantly threatens and blackmails the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] with nuclear weapons rejects the NBT [Nuclear Ban treaty] the DPRK is not in position to accede to the treaty'. See: bit.ly/3nKMb7T.
Recommendations
- North Korea should acknowledge that nuclear deterrence is not a sustainable solution for its own or international security, and that any perceived benefits are far outweighed by the risk of nuclear accidents or war. It should move rapidly to verifiably reduce and eliminate its nuclear arsenal.
- North Korea should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable contribution to the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, attend its meetings of states parties as an observer, and work with its states parties on practical steps towards disarmament.
- North Korea should return to the NPT regime. North Korea should implement its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the IAEA, and conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP). It should also adhere to the CTBT and the CWC.
