HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 c118W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to instruct Her Majesty's ambassador to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to request Director-General Blix to visit North Korea in order to ascertain the reasons from the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards directorate why North Korea is five years late in accepting the mandatory safeguards provisions following its accession to the non-proliferation treaty.

Mr. Waldegrave

No. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to be in direct contact with the authorities in North Korea about a safeguards agreement. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, we do not recognise North Korea as a state.

Parties to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) are obliged, in accordance with its article III, to commence negotiation of safeguards agreements not later than the date of deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession. Such agreements must enter into force not later than 18 months after the date of initiation of negotiations.