44 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland's diplomatic relations with North Korea; and if displeasure has been voiced about its purported development of nuclear weapons. [1445/94]

Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea.

The Government is gravely concerned at the reported development of a nuclear weapons programme by North Korea and at North Korea's failure to comply with its obligations arising from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This concern has been expressed on several occasions, nationally and as a member of the EU. We regard North Korea's non-compliance with international obligations which it has freely assumed as a very serious challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards regime.

We therefore avail of all opportunities to press North Korea to comply fully with all relevant legal obligations, to co-operate immediately with the IAEA in implementation of its safeguards agreement with the agency and specifically to allow the agency to have access to all information relevant to safeguards and to locations. As a member of the Board of Governors of the IAEA, Ireland has co-sponsored a number of Resolutions on this issue, including the Resolution of 10 June 1994 which suspended agency assistance to North Korea.

I am heartened by the news today that agreement has been reached in Geneva in bilateral talks between the US and North Korea on an ad-referendum framework document. While details of the agreement are not available, I hope that it will contribute to stability on the Korean Peninsula.