IAEA Media Advisory
IAEA Media Advisory 2003/09
Director General Emphasizes Urgency of North Korean Response
For full coverage, see the pages on IAEA and DPRK.
8 January 2003 |
In recent days, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei in press
interviews has addressed aspects of the DPRK resolution adopted by
the IAEA Board 6 January.
Interviewed the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United
States 6 January, Dr. ElBaradei said that the resolution requests
him to report back to the Board as a matter of urgency. "I
have transmitted the decision to North Korea. I expect them to
respond in a matter of days, or weeks at the most," he said.
"If they do not, then I will have to go back to the Board of
Governors, and the Board then will report the issue to the Security
Council. So it's a fairly urgent situation....it's a
question of weeks and not months."
The Board resolution requires the DPRK to engage in talks
immediately with the IAEA and calls for Pyongyang to urgently
comply with several measures, including allowing the return of
inspectors to the country and complying fully with its safeguards
agreement. Dr. ElBaradei explained that in the event of continuing
non-compliance, the IAEA is bound to report the matter to the
Security Council, which has enforcement powers. "It is then up
to the Security Council to decide what would be the next
step," he said.
The Director General underlined that the Board action provides an
opportunity to resolve issues. "The chance now is to convince
North Korea that a policy of compliance and not a policy of
defiance is much more conducive to a solution of its perceived
problem," he said. "And that's what we are trying to
work on right now."
About the IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.
Press Contacts
Marc Vidricaire
Director and Spokesperson
Division of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21270
m.vidricaire@iaea.org
Melissa Fleming
Head of Media & Outreach/Spokesperson
Div. of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21275
[43] 699-165-21275 (mobile)
m.fleming@iaea.org
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the IAEA's Press Section, or call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.