Security Council Press Statement on Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas Ballistic

Missile Launch and Engine Test

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile
launch conducted by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea on 21 March 2017 as well
as a ballistic missile engine test on 19 March 2017. The launch and engine test 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 this launch and the engine test, 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 flagrant and provocative
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, the 11 February and 5 March 2017
launches, 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.