The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said in its latest report that it did not register any signs of North Koreas denuclearization efforts and expressed concerns over the absence of access to the countrys nuclear facilities.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st August, 2018) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said in its latest report that it did not register any signs of North Koreas denuclearization efforts and expressed concerns over the absence of access to the countrys nuclear facilities.
The report, issued on Monday, covers developments related to North Koreas nuclear program since the IAEA Director Generals previous report from August 2017.
"The continuation and further development of the DPRKs [Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the formal name for North Korea] nuclear programme and related statements by the DPRK are a cause for grave concern. The DPRKs nuclear activities, including those in relation to the Yongbyon Experimental Nuclear Power Plant (5 MW(e)) reactor, the use of the building which houses the reported centrifuge enrichment facility and the construction at the LWR [Light Water Reactor], as well as the DPRKs sixth nuclear test, are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2375 (2017) and are deeply regrettable," the fresh report read.
According to the report, the agencys monitoring activities are based on open source information and satellite imagery, since the organization has no access to the relevant nuclear facilities.
"The Agency has not had access to the Yongbyon site or to other locations in the DPRK. Without such access, the Agency cannot confirm either the operational status or configuration/design features of the facilities or locations as described in this section, or the nature and purpose of the activities conducted therein," the document stressed.
The report called on Pyongyang to "comply fully with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions" and "cooperate promptly" with the agency, which, in turn, ready to "play an essential role" in verifying the country's nuclear program.
North Korea has faced several rounds of sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, conducted in violation of the UNSC resolutions. The restrictions targeted exports of coal, iron ore, lead and seafood from the Asian nation to UN member states. In December, new sanctions against North Korea were imposed over the country's missile tests.
The tensions around North Korea's nuclear program, however, have calmed down since the beginning of this year. The two Koreas have held two summits since January, and North Korea has not conducted any nuclear and missile tests since September.
On June 12, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met in Singapore where they reached an agreement that requires North Korea to denuclearize in exchange for a freeze of the US-South Korean military drills and potential sanctions relief. No concrete time frame was announced.
