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The United Nations Security Council Statements, North Korea -- What's legally binding?

Under Article 25 of the United Nations Charter, member states are legally required “to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.”

There is nothing in the Charter that specifies the form in which the Council’s decisions must be recorded and, indeed, the word “resolution” is not used in the Charter. The Charter says that member states must comply with “decisions” of the Council, not that they must comply with “resolutions.”

US asked to leave Yongbyon North Korea -- Abort Shutdown, Monitoring

Four U.S technical experts are currently at Yongbyon. They are preparing to leave. Questions about North Korea continued at a fierce pace for a second day. Here's the US State Dept. Daily Press Briefing
April 15, 2009 - STATEMENTS RELATED TO NORTH KOREA

US STATE DEPT: U.S. Government experts and staff monitoring the shutdown and disablement of the Yongbyon facilities have been asked by North Korean authorities to depart the DPRK. Our team on the ground is making preparations to leave. We are discussing next steps on this matter with the DPRK.

The IAEA informed members of the Board of Governors on Tuesday that the DPRK had decided to cease all cooperation immediately with the IAEA, and requested IAEA inspectors to leave the DPRK at the earliest possible time. We refer to you the IAEA regarding the current status of their experts in Yongbyon. So that’s where we are.

NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA: IAEA and DPRK 1977-2009, From Withdraw to Cooperation to Shutdown and Shutout

On September 2nd, 2008, the Director General of the IAEA ( International Atomic Energy Agency) issued his official report saying that the IAEA has 'verified the shutdown status of the Yongbyon nuclear facility and is continuing to implement the ad hoc monitoring and verification arrangement with the cooperation of the DPRK [North Korea]'.

On April 14th, 2009, the IAEA issued the following: 'The DPRK has today informed IAEA inspectors in the Yongbyon facility that it is immediately ceasing all cooperation with the IAEA. It has requested the removal of all containment and surveillance equipment...inspectors have also been asked to leave the DPRK ...The DPRK also informed the IAEA that it has decided to reactivate all facilities and go ahead with the reprocessing of spent fuel."

The DPRK signed its first safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1977. How has the work of  diplomats, inspectors, politicians, dictators and negotiators, year-after-year, come to this?
TAKE A LOOK AT THE INTENSE HISTORY OF THE IAEA AND NORTH KOREA

IMAGES: IAEA

IAEA Officially Un-invited from North Korea

IAEA Inspectors Asked to Leave the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

April 14th, 2009-- Following is a statement to the media by IAEA Spokesperson Marc Vidricaire on the situation in the DPRK:

"The Democratic People´s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has today informed IAEA inspectors in the Yongbyon facility that it is immediately ceasing all cooperation with the IAEA. It has requested the removal of all containment and surveillance equipment, following which, IAEA inspectors will no longer be provided access to the facility. The inspectors have also been asked to leave the DPRK at the earliest possible time.

The DPRK also informed the IAEA that it has decided to reactivate all facilities and go ahead with the reprocessing of spent fuel."

The DPRK - IAEA process began in 1977 when North Korea signed its first agreement related to nuclear programs. TAKE A PEAK AT THE LONG AND TUMULTUOUS HISTORY OF NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION with North Korea

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 hounds State Dept. on US Response to North Korea Response to UN Response to N. Korea

US Department of State, Daily Press Briefing, by Robert Wood, Acting Department Spokesman
April 14, 2009, Washington DC

North Korea dominated the questions, wish a steadfast determination to get specifics on a US response to North Korea's rebuff of UN Security Council and IAEA:

PRESS | QUESTION: What is your response to their announcements?

MR. WOOD: Well, Matt, let me just say I know you all have a lot of questions about North Korea. I don’t have very much at all today that I’m going to give you. And I know you’re going to come at me with a lot of questions from various angles, but I just want to basically refer you back to the UN Security Council presidential statement that was issued. And this presidential statement made very clear the position of the UN Security Council plus Japan. And as you know, the statement calls for an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, a verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and full implementation of the joint statement of 2005. I don’t have much more for you right now. At some later point, we’ll have more to say, but right now, that’s all I have.

QUESTION: In other words, you have no response?

MR. WOOD: As I said, I’ve given you right now what I have for you.

QUESTION: Well, that’s great. But, Robert, but that’s from--that’s from yesterday.

MR. WOOD: Yeah.

QUESTION: Well, things have happened on the ground today.

MR. WOOD: Oh, I understand.

QUESTION: Presumably, the United States is aware of them.

MR. WOOD: Look, we’re certainly aware of what’s going on. But what I’m saying is the statement that was issued by the Security Council in Japan spoke for the international community. It was very clear what our position is with regard to the type of behavior the North has been engaged in. There’s really nothing more to add to it.

QUESTION: The North today has said that it’s going to restart its - - Yongbyon, that it’s going to pull out of the Six-Party Talks, and there are reports that they’ve expelled the U.S. and IAEA inspectors. You’re telling me that the United States Government does not have any kind of response or reaction to that?

MR. WOOD: I’m saying--right now, this is what our response is. And this is not just the U.S. response, this is the international community’s response to what the North has been doing.

QUESTION: I’m, sorry. That --

QUESTION: That happened before North Korea did all this. I mean, you gave your response, which is your statement, and then North Korea reacted by doing all this. And I mean, what practical consequences can you impose on North Korea for its bad behavior when you put out the statement that, even though you said it’s legally binding, many members don’t feel that it’s legally binding? And North Korea continues to flaunt the will of the international community.

MR. WOOD: Well, look, we’ve seen a lot of what the North has done before, Elise. I don’t have anything new I can give you right now beyond what I’ve said. At, you know, later points, we will have more to say about it. But I think we spoke very clearly--we meaning the United States and others on the Council, the broader international community--about what we want to see the North do. There really isn’t anything to add to it at this point.

NORTH KOREA: DPRK STRONGLY Denounces United Nations Security Councl's Missile Launch Rebuke

'DPRK will never participate in the talks any longer nor it will be bound to any agreement of the six-party talks'

This official statement from North Korea's Foreign Ministry/ KCNA agency: --  "The DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday flatly rejecting the brigandish 'presidential statement' which the U.S. and its followers finally released by abusing the UNSC to condemn the DPRK's launch of satellite for peaceful purposes.

Saying that throughout history the UNSC has never taken issue with satellite launches, the statement continues:

First, the DPRK resolutely rejects the unjust action taken by the UNSC wantonly infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and seriously hurting the dignity of the Korean people.

Second, there would be no need to hold six-party talks which the DPRK has attended.

Now that the six-party talks have turned into a platform for infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and seeking to force the DPRK to disarm itself and bring down the system in it the DPRK will never participate in the talks any longer nor it will be bound to any agreement of the six-party talks.

Third, the DPRK will bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defense in every way.

It will take the measure for restoring to their original state the nuclear facilities which had been disabled under the agreement of the six-party talks and putting their operation on a normal track and fully reprocess the spent fuel rods churned out from the pilot atomic power plant as part of it."

READ OTHER RECENT OFFICIAL RELEASES FROM NORTH KOREA ON THEIR MISSILE LAUNCH:
Int'l Organization Refutes Smear Campaign over DPRK's Satellite Launch

Back to -- NORTH KOREA: After stalling, UN Condemns Missile Launch

This from the United Nations Official News Service: Security Council condemns DPR Korea’s recent launch -- 13 April 2009 – The Security Council today spoke out against the recent rocket launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), stressing the importance of preserving peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in North-East Asia.

In a statement read out by Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency, the 15-member body deems the 5 April launch to be in contravention of resolution 1718, which demanded that the country “not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile,” following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006.

IRAN Diplomacy = P-5+1 and the IAEA

Secy. Clinton commented on the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) process :
Under Secretary Bill Burns is now participating in the P-5+1 as a full participant, not just as an observer. And obviously, we believe that, you know, pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense, and there’s nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon. --Wash. DC, April 8th, 2009

Here's the March 5th Statement of “P5+1” Group on Iran’s Nuclear Program from the IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, March 2009 SESSION

 STATEMENT

Statement on behalf of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

We thank the Director General for his report on the "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards and relevant provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803, and 1835 in the Islamic Republic of Iran."

UN Emergency Missile Meeting -- NO AGREEMENT...Only 'Regrets'

The United Nations Security Council met for hours in a closed-door emergency session but failed to reach agreement on a response to North Korea's long-range rocket launch. Even though there is broad consensus that this action violates a range of UN resolutions, the UN Security Council is vulnerable to the veto power of its permanent members. Experts say that in China and / or Russia were likely block new UN sanctions against North Korea, wanting to take a more measured approach to the missile launch.

This official news item released by the United Nations on Sunday April 5th 2009:
            Ban regrets DPR Korea rocket launch, calls for dialogue:    Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his regret that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has, against strong international appeals, proceeded with its planned rocket launch, urging the resumption of diplomatic talks.

According to media reports, the East Asian nation carried out its launch this morning, and the Security Council held an emergency meeting today, at Japan's request, on the issue.

“Given the volatility in the region, as well as a stalemate in interaction among the concerned parties, such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability,”

Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
He urged the DPRK to comply with Security Council resolutions, such as resolution 1718, which demanded that the country “not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile,” following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006.

IRAN to be part of UK's 'global nuclear bargain' ?

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown has called for a “global nuclear bargain for our times”. Speaking, Tues. March 17th, at the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference in London, he spoke about the balance between global society's needs of nuclear power and the threats of nuclear proliferation. He said:  “We must invest in all sources of carbon energy - energy efficiency, renewables, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear power. Given the scale of global emissions reductions required and the likely costs, no cost-effective low carbon technology must be off-limits.”

He cited Iran as a test case, saying that Iran has to make a "clear choice” to continue as usual face further sanctions, or adopt a UN overseen civil nuclear energy program.
Read more from 10 Downing Street.

9 countries agree: Block arms shipments to Gaza --> Support durable cease-fire

Agreement on Gaza Weapons Smuggling

The Department of State welcomes the March 13 agreement in London by representatives of nine countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) on a program of action in response to concerns over continued smuggling of weapons into Gaza. This initiative will strengthen the international community’s ability to support a durable cease-fire. The Program of Action provides a comprehensive platform for enhanced cooperation and coordination in the areas of information and intelligence sharing; diplomatic engagement; and military and law enforcement activities.
The initiative should be seen in the context of relevant UN Security Council resolutions as well as counterterrorism and non-proliferation regimes. Countries will meet on a regular basis to review common efforts.
Working with our partners, the United States is committed to move forward quickly with the new mechanism to seek to block arms shipments to Gaza, which constitute a threat to regional peace and security and put innocent lives of Israelis and Palestinians at risk.