PHILIPPINES CALLS ON DPRK TO REVERSE ITS DECISION ON NPT; EXPRESSES HOPE FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION

Press Release No. 011-03
10 January 2003

PHILIPPINES CALLS ON DPRK TO REVERSE ITS DECISION ON NPT; EXPRESSES HOPE FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION

The Philippines today called on the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea to reverse its decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has been the bedrock of nuclear non-proliferation and has effectively prevented the further spread of nuclear weapons. We call on the DPRK to reverse its decision and not to impose any conditions on its further implementation of its legal obligations,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said.

The DPRK today announced its decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but said it may reverse its decision if the United States agreed to resume oil supplies.

“We reiterate our call for the DPRK to abandon its current actions that point towards a nuclear weapons program and to implement its safeguards accord with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Secretary Ople said.

The Philippines has consistently supported international efforts to convince the DPRK to reverse its current nuclear course. The Philippines is a member of the Governing Board of the IAEA and has supported the two recent strongly-worded resolutions of the Board on the DPRK nuclear issue.

However, Secretary Ople expressed hope that dialogue and diplomacy will succeed in resolving the situation on the Korean peninsula.

Referring to statements from the DPRK and the US on a willingness to discuss matters, Secretary Ople said : “In the midst of all the rhetoric coming from all sides, one can discern some language that gives a glimmer of hope that diplomacy can still work. I understand that direct contacts will be made between the DPRK and the US. I would like to express our strong support for these efforts and commend the leaders involved for their clear commitment working to arrive at a just and peaceful solution.”

The Philippines on Monday (6 January 2002), joined the other members of the Governing Board of the IAEA in adopting a strongly-worded resolution calling on the DPRK to cooperate and readmit international inspectors.

“When this resolution was adopted, I said that it would provide another opportunity for the DPRK to revert its chosen course of resuming its nuclear weapons program and that it is an opportunity that should be taken. Even tough the DPRK has rejected this resolution, I am still convinced that the opportunity still exists for all sides to come to an agreement on how to resolve our differences peacefully,” Secretary Ople said. END.