Nuclear testing causes tension in the CD

Gabriella Irsten and Beatrice Fihn | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
19 February 2012

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Tuesday, 19 February for the first plenary meeting under the Indian presidency. Delegations that took the floor were India, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), Nigeria, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), United States, Canada, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Algeria, Poland, and Australia.

CD programme of work

CD President Ambassador Sujata Mehta of India reinforced that her main goal is to “strengthen and upheld the CD as the single multilateral disarmament negotiation forum”. She indicated that she will continue consultations on a programme of work with CD delegations and emphasised that she would like to see “substantive work on the basis of a consensus Programme of Work such as CD/1864.”

Many delegations expressed disappointment that last week’s efforts to reach an agreement failed. Mr. Kayode Laro from the Nigerian delegation argued that whether you see a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) as a tool for disarmament or non-proliferation, the Shannon Mandate (CD/1299) can accommodate both perspectives. He argued that therefore negotiations could have started under any proposal, such as CD/1864, CD/1933, or CD/1948. Others, however, have complained that the most recent proposal, CD/1948, puts a treaty banning the production of fissile material as a first step, which precludes near-term action on disarmament measures.

Mr. Hamza Khelif from the Algerian delegation believed that since he thought there had been “no absolute no” on CD/1948 last week, the CD could continue consultations based on existing proposals.

DPRK nuclear weapons test

While the failure to agree on a programme of work received its fair share of complaints, the main focus of the plenary was last week’s nuclear test by the DPRK.

On behalf of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, Ambassador Paul van den IJssel of the Netherlands delivered a statement condemning the nuclear test and its violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2087. The condemnation was echoed by the United States, Republic of Korea, and France. Ambassador van den IJssel stated, “This test is yet another reminder of the urgency of further strengthening the international framework for the non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons, including the entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Test-Ban-Treaty and the effective implementation of the NPT.”

In response, Mr. Jon from the DPRK delegation stated that the UNSC resolutions had never been recognized by the DPRK and argued that double standards would never lead to positive development and security in the world. Mr. Jon defended the nuclear test, arguing that it was an act of self-defence provoked by foreign aggression. He concluded by stating that the DPRKs nuclear deterrence is not to be taken as a threat by non-nuclear weapons states and friendly states.

Mr. Jon also took the floor on several occasions to exercise his right to reply to other CD members’ statements. In his right of reply to the Republic of Korea he said, “As the saying goes, a new-born puppy knows no fear of a tiger. South Korea's erratic behaviour would only herald its final destruction.” In a response to the United States, Mr. Jon he proclaimed that if the US continues to take a hostile approach toward the DPRK, it would react with an all-out counter-action.

Such threatening language is unusual in the CD and was met with strong reactions from many delegations. The United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland highlighted the unacceptability of using such language in a body that is intended for negotiations. In her concluding remarks, CD President Ambassador Sujata Mehta urged delegations to maintain a high level of courtesy in the discussions.

Notes from the gallery

Threatening other countries with “final destruction” in a forum devoted to disarmament negotiations is not acceptable. As we concluded last week, DPRK’s nuclear test is a worrying sign that countries still see nuclear weapons as a way of providing security and gaining power.

Nuclear weapons are inhumane, unacceptable, and appalling and no state should be proud to possess them or aspire to acquire them. Maintaining nuclear weapons is not a symbol of power or strength, but instead a constant reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian suffering that they have caused and continuously threaten to cause again. Nuclear tests only highlight the urgent need to outlaw and eliminate nuclear weapons, before the world sees another catastrophic humanitarian event like Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Next plenary meeting

The next plenary meeting will be held on Monday, 25 February at 10:00.