Brussels, 22/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 18 October, the Danish Presidency issued the following declaration on behalf of the EU: "The EU expresses its deep concern over reports from the US Special Envoy's visit to DPRK, that the DPRK has admitted conducting a clandestine nuclear weapon programme. The EU urges North Korea to immediately offer clarification on the issues. Such a programme is a serious breach of the North Korean commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, The International Atomic Energy Agency safeguard agreement as well as the Joint Declaration between North and South Korea on Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the Agreed Framework. It also calls into question the KEDO project. The EU calls on North Korea to take immediate steps to comply with international non-proliferation commitments and eliminate its nuclear weapons programme in a verifiable manner, in accordance with its IAEA Safeguards Agreement. The EU hopes that the recent progress in the peace process in the Korean Peninsula will not be jeopardised. The EU stands ready to work with all parties to find a peaceful resolution to this situation."