§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the United States Government on the future of the nuclear programme in North Korea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryWe discuss the issue of North Korea's non-compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement regularly with the 133W United States Administration. Following the death of Kim Il-Sung we hope that talks between the United States and North Korea aimed at resolving this crisis will be rescheduled very soon, and that a new date for a summit between the leaders of North and South Korea will also be set. We believe that any solution to this crisis must reaffirm the IAEA's right to inspect all North Korea's nuclear facilities to the agency's satisfaction.
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the threat posed by the current North Korean nuclear programme; and what action he plans to take.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAs a result of North Korea's consistent failure to co-operate fully with its International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement, the agency's director general has stated that he cannot conclude that nuclear material has not been diverted for military use in North Korea. We urge North Korea to allay suspicions by complying fully with its IAEA safeguards agreement and affirming unequivocally its commitments to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. If dialogue between North Korea and the United States and South Korea fails, then we are ready to support further consideration of the matter by the United Nations Security Council including the imposition of sanctions.