PR/CP(2006) 081
5
July/juillet 2006
NATO North Atlantic Council Statement on
North Korea
On July 5,
the North Atlantic Council met in Brussels to express the Alliance's grave
concern over North Korea's (DPRK's) launch of a Taepodong-2 and other missiles.
North Koreas development, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles,
missile-related materials, equipment, and technology pose a serious threat to
the region and the international community at large. We regret and condemn this
launch. This action will only further isolate North Korea from the international
community and harm the interests of its people.
North Korea's missile
programs and provocative actions necessitate a firm response from the
international community, and we will support the international community's
efforts to address this matter broadly, including at the UN Security Council
which will meet later today.
We call on the DPRK to cease immediately the
development of long-range missiles, to reconfirm its moratorium on all
long-range missile launches, to abide by the guidelines of the Missile
Technology Control Regime, and to subscribe to the Hague Code of Conduct Against
Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
We urge the DPRK to immediately return
to the Six-Party Talks without precondition, to work toward the expeditious
implementation of the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement, and to completely and
verifiably eliminate its nuclear weapons and related
programs.