Countering North Korean Proliferation Finance Activities

Consistent with our strong international stand against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Australia has today implemented financial sanctions against a number of companies and an individual connected with involvement in financing North Korea’s continuing efforts to develop its nuclear and other WMD programs. This supports and complements similar action taken by Japan today and previous actions taken by the United States, and sends a strong message to North Korea.

We will remain vigilant on this issue for as long as necessary, and will implement similar sanctions against any other companies or individuals who seek to undermine international security and stability through assisting North Korea continue its ill-considered, costly and provocative WMD programs.

Our actions, and the actions taken by Japan today and those by the United States previously, are fully consistent with our obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1695. Indeed, North Korea’s proliferation activities stand in stark contravention of the will of the international community as expressed in UNSCRs 1695 and 1540. North Korea’s WMD programs threaten North Asia’s security and stability, and instability in North Asia would have significant implications for international stability and commerce.

North Korea misguidedly believes that development of a WMD capacity will enhance its security. This is patently untrue . We call on North Korea to recognise this, and to give up its WMD ambitions. The way for North Korea to ensure its security is to honour the commitments it made one year ago under the Joint Statement of Principles to abandon all nuclear weapons and programs and return to the NPT and the IAEA safeguards regime. I also call on North Korea to immediately return to the Six Party Talks. The only country placing conditions on a return to these talks is North Korea.

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