merrion street

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney TD, has expressed grave concern about reports that North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on 28 July 2017. He said:

"Once again, I am disappointed to learn that North Korea has launched an ICBM. That this launch has come so soon after the previous one on 4 July is particularly concerning as it indicates an intensification of North Korea’s missile programme, raising tensions and presenting a real threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, 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 launches, 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 which have 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.”