I am pleased that we have now signed an agreement whereby the DPRK is submitting all nuclear material and facilities in the DPRK - present and future - to IAEA safeguards verification. The DPRK is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. IAEA safeguards are applied to verify that the parties to that treaty are using all nuclear material and installations for exclusively peaceful purposes. To create the openness that is necessary for confidence, regionally and globally, these safeguards must be effective and comprehensive. We are trying to strengthen them.
We look forward to an early ratification of the agreement by the DPRK and to full co-operation with IAEA in the implementation of the agreement. I should like to thank all those who have been involved in the negotiation and drafting of the agreement and thank the delegation from the DPRK for having come here to sign the agreement.