REMARKS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL
ON NON-PROLIFERATION/DPRK
New York, 30 April 2026
Mr. President,
Members of the Security Council,
This year marks the beginning of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s new Five-Year Military Development Plan for 2026-2030.
The DPRK’s Ninth Party Congress, held from 19 to 25 February, noted that under this Plan, the DPRK will introduce “new secret arsenals and special strategic assets”, including “the ICBM complexes of ground and underwater launching”.
Throughout 2025 and into early 2026, the DPRK has continued to conduct ballistic missile launches. This includes short-range ballistic missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range strategic cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles.
In the past month, the DPRK has also tested ballistic missiles equipped with what it calls “cluster bomb and fragmentation mine warheads”.
This month, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned of a “very serious increase” in the DPRK’s fissile material production capacity at the Yongbyon nuclear site.
These developments have been accompanied by statements from the DPRK Leader reiterating the country’s commitment to further advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities through qualitative modernization and the diversification of delivery systems.
Mr. President,
The DPRK’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, remains a matter of serious concern.
These activities undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
We reiterate our call on the DPRK to fully comply with its international obligations, including the NPT and IAEA safeguards, and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
At this critical juncture, it is essential to underscore the urgent need to reduce nuclear risk, prevent any use of nuclear weapons and bring about their total elimination.
Mr. President,
The Security Council last met on this issue in May 2025, one year after the end of the mandate of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009).
While the Panel’s mandate was not renewed beyond 30 April 2024, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) continues to oversee the sanctions measures, which remain in place.
As the Secretary-General has stated, all countries must abide by the relevant Security Council sanctions in their relations with the DPRK.
Mr. President,
The broader security landscape on the Korean Peninsula remains tense, with heightened military activities, limited avenues for inter-Korean and regional dialogue, and growing concerns over the potential for miscalculation.
The only way to durably reduce tensions and alleviate these concerns is to achieve sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Dialogue and diplomacy are indispensable to achieving this objective. We welcome any efforts in this respect.
Thank you.
