Brussels, 14/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 March, the European Parliament condemned the nuclear tests and activities linked to the launching of missiles in North Korea, and it urged North Korea to refrain from all provocation by “suspending all activities related to its ballistic missile programme and abandoning, in a complete and irreversible manner, the existing nuclear programmes”.
In a joint resolution, MEPs condemn North Korea's announcement that it reserves the right to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike and they deplore the fact that North Korea has scrapped the non-aggression pact with South Korea. The MEPs call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to respect its commitments, to urgently sign the treaties on non-proliferation and completely banning nuclear tests, and to choose a constructive path by engaging with the international community.
The Parliament also calls on China, North Korea's main trading ally, “to exert its influence” on Pyongyang “to ensure the situation does not escalate further”.
No respect for human rights.
Reiterating its “deepest concern” over the deteriorating human rights situation - which has been described as “being in a category of its own, as egregious, widespread and systematic” - the Parliament calls on the DPRK “to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union” and to stop extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. It calls on the DPRK to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, and to allow free expression and press freedom. MEPs welcome the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Inquiry on North Korea, as proposed by the EU and Japan.
Given the severity of the DPRK's food situation and its impact on the economic, social and cultural rights of the population, the Parliament calls on the European Commission to maintain the existing humanitarian aid programmes, and calls on the DPRK authorities to ensure the access of all citizens to food and humanitarian aid.
A feudal country.
The previous day, Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) and Anna Gomes (S&D, Portugal) had described the country as “feudal”, while Jelko Kacin (ALDE, Slovenia) said it was “a real and cruel dictatorship”. Many MEPs believed the attitude of the DPRK was a threat to world peace. Stating that she “strongly encouraged China to put pressure on the regime in Pyongyang”, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton maintained pressure on the DPRK. Ashton said that the EU wanted to see North Korea rejoin the international community but that, while waiting, it would not relinquish the pressure. She added that the issue of North Korea would be raised again during her visit to China next month, after discussions with the United States. (CG/transl.fl)