Dichiarazione di voto pronunciata dall’Ambasciatore Inigo Lambertini, Vice Rappresentante Permanente d’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite a seguito del voto sulla Risoluzione sulla Nord Corea —
Italy welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution. We share the continued sense of urgency regarding the need to address the DPRK’s dangerous and illegal activities with further economic and diplomatic pressure, and we thank the delegation of the United States for its work in this regard.
Today’s resolution – the fourth adopted this year – introduces further meaningful restrictive measures vis-à-vis the DPRK, following the latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch on 28 November.
North Korea’s continued defiant and reckless actions probably constitute the gravest threat currently facing the International Community. We convincingly voted in favor of this text because such provocative acts deserve a strong and united response in defending our collective security and the integrity of the non-proliferation regime, as well as the authority of this Council.
Once again, we strongly condemn the DPRK’s illegal activities, and call on the regime to put an immediate end to the development
of its missile and nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, thus making credible progress on its obligation to denuclearize.
The measures adopted today provide a comprehensive response, commensurate to the threat we face. By applying further restrictions on DPRK exports and foreign workers, we are limiting the instruments at the regime’s disposal for earning foreign currency and thus financing its illegal weapons and missile programs.
Likewise, the tightening of maritime restrictions, together with the enhancement of information sharing between Member States, reduces the scope for illegal attempts by the DPRK to circumvent the sanctions.
We welcome the fact that the text renews our commitment to avoiding unintended humanitarian consequences on the local population. It is of paramount importance to avoid such effects, while we should never lose sight of the fact that the citizens of North Korea are first and foremost victims of the regime’s self-isolating policies. We reaffirm our concern regarding the humanitarian situation in the country and our support to the assistance provided by UN agencies and their partners in order to alleviate the suffering of the North Korean population.
The resolution expresses commitment to a peaceful diplomatic and political solution and welcomes efforts to find it through dialogue. Italy is committed to this goal, while recognizing that the way to open a window of opportunity towards meaningful negotiations is to apply maximal economic and diplomatic pressure in order to bring about a verifiable change in the regime’s current policies.
Lastly, Mr President, as outgoing chair of the 1718 Committee, we once again call on ALL Member States to implement all relevant DPRK sanctions resolutions in a full and comprehensive manner.
I thank you.
