Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench). It was answered by Lord Malloch-Brown (Labour) on Thursday, 4 June 2009.

North Korea

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Governments of China and Russia to encourage a united response to the decision of the North Korean Government to conduct an underground nuclear explosion, to fire six short-range missiles, and to revoke the truce that ended the Korean War in 1953. My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so, I declare a non-financial interest as chairman of the All-Party British-North Korea Parliamentary Group.

Answer: My Lords, we are working with UN Security Council partners including China and Russia to secure a robust resolution in response to the nuclear test carried out by the DPRK on 25 May. This includes action in New York as well as in capitals. What has happened is a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 and we have strongly condemned the DPRK Government for their action. The DPRK’s decision to fire short-range missiles and the threat to "rip up" the 1953 armistice agreement is provocative and will further damage regional stability.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 711 c298-9
Session: 2008-09
Oral question type: Lead
Procedure: Topical questions (HL)
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: China Nuclear weapons Politics and government Testing Russia North Korea South Korea
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk