§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the International Atomic Energy Agency visit to North Korea to conduct nuclear safeguards inspections on facilities, pursuant to resolutions of the United Nations Security Council; what consultations he has had with the292W United States Government over these nuclear inspections; and if he will make a statement on the application of United Kingdom non-proliferation policy to (a) the Koreas, (b) Taiwan and (c) Japan.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggDespite a written agreement of 15 February, North Korea did not allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to undertake some crucial parts of their inspection earlier this month. Consequently the agency was unable to verify that no diversion of nuclear material from the civil nuclear fuel cycle has taken place in the last year. We shall continue to work closely with the United States Administration on this issue. We expect all countries which are members of the non-proliferation treaty, or which have concluded safeguards agreements, to abide fully by their obligations not to develop nuclear weapons.