Discorso pronunciato dall’Ambasciatore Sebastiano Cardi, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, durante il meeting emergenza del Consiglio di Sicurezza su non proliferazione/Nord Corea—
The latest nuclear test by North Korea represents a grave and reckless provocation, in violation of successive UNSC resolutions. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately condemned this act unequivocally and in the firmest terms.
Since the first hours Prime Minister Gentiloni has been in close contact with our main European partners, confirming that Italy will continue to do its part for a firm and cohesive response, at the international and European level, to pressure Pyongyang to desist from its provocations. As Minister Alfano stressed, by pursuing its nuclear and ballistic programs, Pyongyang poses a clear threat to international peace and security and is increasingly and seriously challenging the global non-proliferation regime. North Korea is the only country that has tested a nuclear device in the XXI Century: such a breach of the international moratorium on nuclear tests highlights once more the urgent need for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to enter into force. Also, following an initiative by the Italian Presidency, the G7 Leaders issued today a statement urging the full implementation of the UNSC resolutions, stating their readiness to adopt further measures to ensure that North Korea reverts to international legality and recalling the responsibility of this Council to this end.
Less than a week ago this Council unanimously adopted a strong Presidential Statement condemning the latest DPRK missile launch. Today’s briefing of the Council confirms that we stand united in responding to the growing threat posed by North Korea. We express our full solidarity to the Governments of the region, as well as their peoples, who are directly affected by the consequences of Pyongyang’s irresponsible acts, while reaffirming that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are a global threat that concerns us all.
Through the relentless pursuit of its programs, the DPRK regime continues to systematically defy the authority of this Council and the will of the International Community as a whole. This latest nuclear test poses a new level of threat.
Italy believes it is imperative that the DPRK immediately put a definitive and complete stop to the development of its missile and nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. I wish to underline the importance that Italy attaches to the continued unity of the Security Council on this matter. We believe that, under the current circumstances, a firm and determined response by this Council is the right course of action. Therefore, we encourage the Security Council to adopt further measures in response to the latest nuclear test, bearing in mind that sanctions must remain a tool for a wider strategy aimed at a peaceful and definitive solution for the Korean peninsula and the region as a whole.
Allow me to reiterate our full solidarity with the population of North Korea, who continue to suffer as the regime ignores their basic needs in the pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. We are committed to ensuring, as reaffirmed in resolution 2371, that the sanctions regime does not have a negative effect on the humanitarian situation in the country. As Chair of the 1718 Committee, we stand ready to redouble our efforts to ensure a comprehensive and thorough implementation of the sanctions regime by the whole UN membership. An effective sanctions regime is essential to make the DPRK leadership calculate the price of its challenge to the International Community and bring them back to the negotiating table for credible multilateral talks.
