merrion street

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney TD, has expressed grave concern about North Korea’s latest missile test on 29 August 2017. He said:

"I am deeply worried by North Korea’s most recent ballistic missile test. The missile flew over Japanese territory, raising tensions and presenting a real threat to peace and security in the entire North East Asia region and beyond. It is an unacceptable and provocative violation of the DPRK's international obligations not to conduct such tests and I unreservedly condemn such actions.

I call on North Korea to abandon its programmes to develop ballistic missiles, nuclear capabilities and weapons of mass destruction; and to carry out these processes in a manner that is complete, verifiable and irreversible. In addition to the grave threat to lasting peace in the region, DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes absorb scarce resources, a detrimental impact on the lives of the North Korean people.

We reaffirm Ireland’s support for the international sanctions regime against North Korea, and urge the authorities in Pyongyang to re-engage with the Six Party Talks, immediately and without pre-conditions.”