IAEA Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, said today that the decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was "a continuation of a policy of defiance and was counterproductive to ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula."

Dr. El Baradei added that, "the NPT, with its 188 States Parties, is the cornerstone of the international community’s efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons. A challenge to the integrity of that Treaty may constitute a threat to international peace and security."

"I strongly urge the DPRK to reverse its decision and to seek instead a diplomatic solution," Dr. ElBaradei said. "This is the only way to address the DPRK’s security and other concerns."

He reminded the DPRK of the international community’s readiness to engage the DPRK in a dialogue toward a peaceful settlement once the DPRK had shown signs of readiness to come into compliance with its international non-proliferation obligations, but not under the threat of nuclear blackmail.

Dr. ElBaradei noted that under Article 10 of the NPT, a decision to withdraw can only be effected after three months. He expressed the hope that, as a matter of urgency, the international community and the DPRK through dialogue would arrive at an agreed and peaceful solution.

Related Coverage: IAEA:DPRK.