North Korea

House of Lords written question – answered at on 8 January 2013.

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Photo of Lord Alton of Liverpool Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Warsi on 12 December (Official Report, col. 1064) and following the decision by the Government of North Korea to test its ballistic missile technology, what message was conveyed to the ambassador from North Korea during the meeting to which he was invited at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 12 December; what was his response; and what contact the Foreign Secretary has had with the Government of China in preparation for the meeting of the United Nations Security Council which will consider this matter.

Photo of Baroness Warsi Baroness Warsi Senior Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (Jointly with the Department for Communities and Local Government), Senior Minister of State (Department for Communities and Local Government) (Faith and Communities) (also in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

The North Korean ambassador was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend Mr Burt, on 12 December. Alistair Burt condemned North Korea's satellite launch, made clear that it was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1874 and emphasised the importance of North Korea adhering to its international obligations. He also pointed out that North Korea should prioritise its resources on feeding its people, avoid further provocative action and take urgent steps to re-engage constructively with the international community.

The ambassador's response was consistent with public statements by the North Koreans.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend Mr Swire, met the North Korean ambassador on 19 December. He repeated the UK's strong condemnation of the satellite launch and explained that under international law North Korea must adhere to the obligations placed on it by the UN Security Council. He reiterated the Government's call for North Korea to focus its resources on improving the lives of the North Korean people.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), did not have any contact himself with the Chinese Government before the UN Security Council meeting on 12 December. However, in advance of the satellite launch, he instructed our embassy in Beijing to speak to the Chinese Government to explain our position. Officials from the FCO in London also spoke to the Chinese embassy and our ambassador to North Korea met the Chinese ambassador in Pyongyang to reiterate these messages.

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