UNSC Open Briefing on DPRK ICBM Launch

[25 March 2022; 1500 hours]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Madam President,

Thank you for convening this meeting today. We welcome the participation of Japan and Republic of Korea in today’s meeting as well. We have noted the concerns expressed by countries in the region on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

2. India deplores the launch of an ICBM by the DPRK. This is a violation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council relating to the DPRK. It affects peace and security of the region and beyond. Further, the launch contravenes DPRK’s own self-declared moratorium against the launch of ICBMs and goes against the objective of the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which has been endorsed by the DPRK itself.

3. We call for full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK.

4. This Council has met several times since the beginning of the year to discuss the series of missile launches by DPRK. In this context, we would like to recall our request to the Panel of Experts under the 1718 Committee for incident reports on these launches in the context of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We hope that the Panel will come out with its reports soon.

5. India also believes that there is a pressing need to address the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to DPRK in our region. These linkages have an adverse impact on peace and security in the region, including on India.

6. India supports dialogue to resolve the issues in the Korean Peninsula.

Madame President,

7. India is sensitive to the humanitarian situation in the DPRK, and we had granted humanitarian assistance of US$ 1 million for the people of DPRK in the form of anti-Tuberculosis medicines, routed through the WHO. We also note that the 1718 sanctions committee has been extending approvals for humanitarian assistance as and when they are received.

8. Finally, India reiterates its continued support to denuclearization towards peace and security in the Korean Peninsula. I thank you.

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