HC Deb 02 April 1992 vol 222 c484W
Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Korean peninsula; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit the Republic of Korea from 7 to 9 April. This will be a good opportunity for wide-ranging talks with members of the new Administration there and with business representatives.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent changes in the human rights situation in the Republic of Korea; and if he will make a statement on the recent amnesty granted by the Government there.

Mr. Garel-Jones

Together with our European Community partners, we continue to monitor developments over human rights in the Republic of Korea. We are very encouraged by progress in the democratic process, most recently demonstrated by the presidential election. We regard the recent amnesty for prisoners as further evidence of the Government's desire to establish a broader base of popular trust within the country.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether each American nuclear base installed in South Korea has been examined and cleared by the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

South Korea acceded to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state in 1975 and has in place a full scope safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. No reports of non-compliance have been received.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the resolution approved by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 18 March on the attempts to implement the request for nuclear safeguards inspections in North Korea.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

A copy has been deposited in the Library of the House.

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