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Delivered by Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative 

Please Check Against Delivery.

Mr. President,

I thank Mr. Khaled Khiari for his valuable briefing and also welcome the participation of the Republic of Korea and Japan in today’s meeting.

The UAE joins the Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, in expressing strong condemnation of the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on 4 October by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which flew over Japanese territory for the first time in five years. This dangerous escalation flagrantly threatened civilian lives, international aviation, and maritime safety, and we offer our full support to Japan and its people.

The recent ballistic missile launch is part of the continued reckless and irresponsible behavior by the DPRK, which resumed its missile tests in September of last year, in a clear violation of several Security Council resolutions.

In the context of today’s meeting, I would like to emphasize the following points:

First, we renew our call for the DPRK to respect international laws, norms, and relevant Security Council resolutions, and we urge it to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy and dialogue. We stress our condemnation of any missile tests, any efforts to possess nuclear weapons, and all actions that undermine non-proliferation efforts.

In this regard, we express concern over reports that the DPRK may be ready to conduct a nuclear test as well as the law adopted by its Parliament last month on the right to possess nuclear weapons and permit their preemptive use.

Second, we affirm the importance of all countries being in full compliance with the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime, especially at this critical juncture for that regime. Undoubtedly, the escalatory pattern of behavior exhibited by the DPRK, specifically through its development of a nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, will negatively affect the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, and we agree with assessments that the DPRK feels emboldened by Council inaction on this.

Third, the Security Council must intensify its efforts to maintain peace and security on the Korean peninsula and to preserve the global non-proliferation regime. This necessarily includes preventing the DPRK from engaging in illicit smuggling of weapons and components via the black market.  In doing so, the Council must consider utilizing all measures at its disposal, including sanctions measures. We are ready to work with other Council members to address the concerns arising from such measures taken by the Council. At the same time, we once again call on the DPRK to resume dialogue with relevant parties, to prioritize diplomatic solutions, and to abandon its nuclear weapons in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner to bring peace and security to the Korean Peninsula. Fourth, while decision-makers in the DPRK continue to harness limited resources for the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, the UAE remains concerned about the continued deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of the North Korean people, the majority of whom suffer from poverty. We once again urge the DPRK to cooperate with the international community and the UN to alleviate the current humanitarian situation by facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid and by allowing relief organizations and the United Nations Resident Coordinator to carry out their vital activities within the country.

Finally, the UAE stresses the importance of the Security Council speaking with a united voice in order to carry out its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security and slowing further escalation of this dangerous nuclear rhetoric. The warning signs are flashing red for this Council, and a response is needed.

Thank you, Mr. President.