IAEA Media Advisory

IAEA Media Advisory 2003/48

IAEA Board of Governors Adopts Resolution on Safeguards in North Korea

For full coverage, see the pages on IAEA and DPRK.

12 February 2003 | The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution on the implementation of IAEA safeguards in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 12 February 2003. The Board -- the 35-member policymaking body of the Agency -- took the action after consideration of a report from IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.

The Board of Governors,

  1. Recalling its resolutions GOV/2636, GOV/2639, GOV/2645, GOV/2692, GOV/2711 and GOV/2742, and General Conference resolutions GC(XXXVII)/RES/624, GC(XXXVIII)/RES/16, GC(39)/RES/3, GC(40)/RES/4, GC(41)/RES/22, GC(42)/RES/2, GC(43)/RES/3, GC(44)/RES/26, GC(45)/RES/16, and GC(46)/RES/14,


  2. Also recalling its resolution GOV/2002/60 of 29 November 2002 and resolution GOV/2003/3 of 6 January 2003, and noting that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has rejected those resolutions and the efforts of the Director General to institute a dialogue pursuant to them,


  3. Confirming that the Agency's Safeguards Agreement with the DPRK pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains binding and in force and that it is essential and urgent that the DPRK enable the Agency to take the necessary measures to ensure verification of compliance with that Agreement,


  4. Having considered the report of the Director General (GOV/2003/4) and in particular paragraph 10 which states that the Secretariat remains unable to verify, in accordance with the DPRK’s NPT Safeguards Agreement, that there has been no diversion of nuclear material in the DPRK, and


  5. Taking account of the rights and obligations under that Agreement,

    1. Expresses deep concern that the DPRK has not undertaken to co-operate urgently and fully with the Agency, and has not taken the necessary steps called for in resolution GOV/2003/3, and calls upon it to do so urgently;

    2. Expresses deep concern also that the Agency is not able to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material subject to safeguards to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices;

    3. Declares , based on the report of the Director General, that the DPRK is in further non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement with the Agency;

    4. Calls upon the DPRK to remedy urgently its non-compliance with its Safeguards Agreement by taking all steps deemed necessary by the Agency;

    5. Decides to report, as provided for in Article XII.C. of the Statute, through the Director General, the DPRK’s non-compliance and the Agency’s inability to verify non-diversion of nuclear material subject to safeguards, to all Members of the Agency and to the Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations; and in parallel stresses its desire for a peaceful resolution of the DPRK nuclear issue and its support for diplomatic means to that end;

    6. Requests the Director General to continue his efforts to implement the Agency’s comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the DPRK and to keep the Board informed of any significant developments; and

    7. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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.