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IAEA concerned over North Korea’s unwillingness to comply with UN resolutions

The IAEA reiterated its willingness to facilitate a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear issue
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano  EPA/LISI NIESNER
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano
© EPA/LISI NIESNER

VIENNA, March 6. /TASS/. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is concerned over North Korea’s unwillingness to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the organization’s Director General Yukiya Amano said on Monday in his statement to the IAEA Board of Governors.

"I remain seriously concerned about the nuclear program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," the statement reads. "It is deeply regrettable that the DPRK has shown no indication that it is willing to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions adopted in response to its two nuclear tests last year."

At the same time, Amano once again called upon North Korea "to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency, and to resolve all outstanding issues, including those that have arisen during the absence of Agency inspectors from the country."

Besides, the IAEA reiterated its willingness to facilitate a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear issue by resuming its activities aimed at monitoring the country’s facilities.

The United Nations Security Council adopted the Resolution 2321 on November 30, 2016, as a response to the fifth nuclear test conducted by North Korea in September. The document imposes severe restrictions on North Korea's coal exports which is one of the country’s main sources of hard currency. Experts say that a significant portion of these funds were used to finance missile and nuclear research.

However, North Korea has been conducting ballistic missile tests firing missiles into the sea off Japan. The UN Security Council has been condemning these tests demanding that North Korea abide by its resolutions. Pyongyang refuses to recognize these documents saying that the country has the right to implement its missile and nuclear program against the background of Washington’s aggressive policies.