Topic: North Korea
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Laura Lynch
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Ethiopia position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Since World War II, the increase and overall escalation of violence between and within countries has skyrocketed, causing the proliferation and stockpiling of nuclear weapons to be a larger threat to international peace and security than ever before. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea abandonment of their commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Agreement in 2003 and subsequent building of nuclear, biological, and chemical stockpiles in combination with prior tension within the peninsula has been a point of contention since its conception. As an original signatory and party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Ethiopia has been a leader in supporting nuclear disarmament, and believes that that de-escalation of tension in both the Korean Peninsula and Eastern Asia as a whole.
Denuclearization is imperative to peace in a larger scale, and the only way to do so an inclusive, future-forward agenda aimed at establishing a reconciled future for the Korean peninsula. The nation of Ethiopia firmly stands behind sanctions previously waged by the Security Council due to the stagnation in conditions within DPRK. The delegation of Ethiopia would like to address the widespread violations of the unanimously implemented sanctions, including both petroleum trade and other financial transactions. However, we strongly do not believe sanctions alone will lead to a permanent solution or peaceful future. Historically, sanctions on North Korea haven’t made a strong level of progress or real effect on the government as a whole, and only worsen humanitarian issues within the country. Ethiopia believes that a sustainable solution and long-lasting progress will only come through diplomacy and dialogue, viewing the peace talks between North and South Korea hopefully as well as agreements such as the Pyongyang Declaration that have come out of them. Ethiopia seeks to increase such peace talks and expand them to a broader scale. An establishment of peace talks between select Security Council members directed toward denuclearization and a positive outlook on future, long-term reconciliation and integration within the Korean peninsula and as well as the international community would be beneficial toward all members involved. With annual peace talks there can be an establishment of goals, and with each reconvene and evaluation sanctions and other repercussions can be re-evaluated. Additionally, Ethiopia believes that military action regarding this issue should be entire off the table, being less than an option considered the potential possible nuclear warfare holds. As a council we face many complicated roadblocks in attempting to peacefully de-escalate this issue. Firstly, we must tackle the question of stagnation in terms of this matter and how to get around it. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in report GOV/2018/34-GC(62)/12 on North Korea stated there was evidence toward the “continuation and further development” of the country’s nuclear program. Additionally, How should we establish and regulate these proposed peace talks? What goals should be set in regard to them? The nation of Ethiopia looks forward to continuing a path of determined diplomacy, feeling optimistic about the progress that has already been forged within the last year in regard to the manner. No matter what the solution ultimately is, we must ensure that it will be long-lasting and that there’s unity in the decision by the council. Ethiopia looks forward to working with other delegates in committee in order to forge these solutions.
