OSCE Chairman welcomes agreement to curb North Korean nuclear ambitions, urges strong follow up

MADRID, 13 February 2007 - The OSCE Chairman, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, welcomed today's agreement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to start taking steps toward nuclear disarmament and urged the country to adhere to the deal reached at the six-party talks in Beijing.

"This is a welcome step in the right direction and a testament to the desire of all sides to reach an agreement that will enhance security in Northeast Asia and beyond," said Minister Moratinos.

"The next challenge is to ensure the agreement is adhered to and built on, so that North Korea can benefit from economic assistance and the world can be assured the Korean peninsula will be free of nuclear weapons."

The OSCE had condemned October's nuclear weapon test by North Korea as a provocative act that threatened regional and global security, urging North Korea to return to the six-party talks. The talks involve two OSCE participating States, the United States and Russia, and two OSCE Partners for Co-operation, South Korea and Japan.

The Russian Federation, as one of the 56 OSCE participating States, directly borders North Korea.