Security Council Press Statement on Democratic Peoples Republic of

Koreas Ballistic Missile Launches

7 March 2017

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the most recent
ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic Peoples Republic of
Korea on 5 March 2017. These launches are in grave violation of the Democratic
Peoples Republic of Koreas international obligations under United Nations
Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094
(2013), 2270 (2016), and 2321 (2016).

The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that
such activities contribute to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas
development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension in the
region and beyond as well as the risk of a regional arms race. The members of
the Security Council further regretted that the Democratic Peoples Republic of
Korea is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while Democratic
Peoples Republic of Korea citizens have great unmet needs.

The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern over the
Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas increasingly destabilising behavior and
defiance of the Security Council by conducting these ballistic missile launches
after the 15 April, 23 April, 27 April, 28 April, 31 May, 21 June, 9 July, 18 July, 2
August, 23 August, 5 September, 14 October, and 19 October launches of 2016,
11 February 2017 launch, as well as the nuclear test of 9 September 2016. The
members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in
violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and comply fully with its
obligations under these resolutions.

The members of the Security Council called upon all Member States to redouble
their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic
Peoples Republic of Korea by the Security Council, particularly the
comprehensive measures contained in resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270
(2016). The members of the Security Council directed the Committee
established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) to intensify its work to strengthen
enforcement of resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016) and assist Member
States to comply with their obligations under those resolutions and other
relevant resolutions. The members of the Security Council also called on Member
States to report as soon as possible on concrete measures they have taken in
order to implement effectively the provisions of resolutions 2321 (2016) and
2270 (2016).

The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining

peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large,
expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to
the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States,
to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. The
members of the Security Council emphasised the vital importance of the
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea showing sincere commitment to
denuclearisation and stressed the importance of working to reduce tensions in
the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would
continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, in
line with the Councils previously expressed determination.