IAEA CHIEF URGES RENEWED ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREA ON NUCLEAR SAFETY

ISTANBUL, Feb 21 (Bernama-Anadolu) – The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on the international community to renew efforts to engage North Korea on nuclear safety.

"We should strive for a re-establishment of some engagement, some presence by the IAEA in the country," Rafael Grossi told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday, according to Anadolu Ajansi (AA).

Addressing concerns over North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, he noted that the last IAEA activity in the country took place in 2009. He said progress has been limited in the absence of direct engagement.

Grossi said he had discussed the issue with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who recently brought it up with United States (US) President Donald Trump during a meeting in Washington.

"There are areas like nuclear safety where we could try to establish some form of engagement," he said. He highlighted Japan’s "indispensable" role and stressed that "China’s role is going to be very, very important as well."

During his visit to Japan, Grossi also inspected the ongoing release of treated nuclear waste from the Fukushima nuclear plant. He was accompanied by experts from China, Switzerland, South Korea and Japan.

Acknowledging the complexities of denuclearisation, he remarked that "denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is easier said than done."

He also cited binding UN resolutions that prohibit North Korea’s nuclear development.

North Korea has been under sweeping UN arms embargoes since 2006 due to its nuclear programme. Sanctions have been repeatedly tightened to restrict nearly all arms imports and exports.

A UN committee was established in 2006 to oversee the enforcement of these sanctions. However, its mandate expired last year after Russia vetoed its extension.

Last September, North Korea publicly revealed a uranium enrichment facility for the first time. Its leader Kim Jong Un called for expanding the country’s nuclear capabilities.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU