The Hague, 19 July 2004

OPCW Director-General Visits Republic of Korea

The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Mr Rogelio Pfirter, conducted an official visit to the Republic of Korea from 11 to 15 July 2004 at the invitation of the Korean Government.

Director-General Pfirter met with senior-level officials and briefed them on the status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the efforts undertaken by the OPCW in fulfilling its mandate to implement a global ban on chemical weapons by eliminating all stockpiles and preventing the proliferation or re-emergence of chemical weapons.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon, in his discussion with Director-General Pfirter regarding issues related to the CWC’s implementation, expressed the continuing commitment and support of his Government for the OPCW and the Director?General. Minister Ban and Director-General Pfirter agreed on the importance of Resolution 1540, recently adopted by the United Nations Security Council, which obligates all States to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and affirms that universal adherence to the CWC contributes to preventing the growing threat of chemical terrorism.

H.E. Mr Yung-Kil Cho, the Minister of National Defense, in his discussions with the Director-General, reiterated the support of his Government for the OPCW and its full commitment to implement the CWC. Minister Cho and Director-General Pfirter discussed the security situation on the Korean peninsula.

Both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of National Defense expressed the hope that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea would soon join the other 164 States Parties to the CWC, thus contributing to regional and international peace and security. The Director-General reaffirmed his readiness and commitment to work for the Convention’s universality on the Korean peninsula.

H.E. Mr Hee-Boom Lee, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy, and the Director-General discussed issues pertinent to the CWC’s effective national implementation, in particular by ensuring that the mandatory national legislative and administrative measures to apply the CWC’s international chemical transfer regime are enacted and diligently exercised by all States Parties. Minister Lee emphasized chemical industry’s on-going support for the implementation of the global chemical weapons ban. In Ulsan City, the Director-General met representatives of the Korean chemical industry, which ranks as the world’s eighth largest chemical producer.

On behalf of the OPCW, the Director-General acknowledged with appreciation the invaluable support provided by the Government of the Republic of Korea, as well as that of its chemical industry.

During his visit to the Republic of Korea, Director-General Pfirter also participated in a roundtable discussion with senior members of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. In his remarks, the Director-General noted, “we now face a much more unstable global environment. There is a market for weapons of mass destruction, and their proliferation fosters instability and insecurity. The rapid growth in the OPCW’s membership in the Asian-Pacific region in recent years is therefore encouraging as full and effective implementation of the global chemical weapons ban contributes to making the world a safer place.”