1. The Group of Eminent Persons (GEM) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will visit the Republic of Korea at the invitation of Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and hold its third meeting in Seoul on June 25 and 26.

2. The forthcoming CTBTO GEM meeting will mark the first of its kind to be held in Asia. At its opening ceremony on June 25, Foreign Minister Yun will deliver opening remarks urging international efforts to expedite the CTBT’s entry into force and delivering a message on the North Korean nuclear issue amid the growing international concern over the country’s sophistication of its nuclear capability.

3. The Seoul meeting will bring together such GEM members as former Director-General Hans Blix of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); former Secretary of Defense Desmond Browne of the UK; former Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu of Romania; former UN High Representatives for Disarmament Affairs Sergio de Queiroz Duarte and Angela Kane; the CTBTO’s first-ever Executive Secretary Wolgang Hoffman; the ROK’s former Ambassador to Finland Lee Ho-jin; and former UN Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang; as well as CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo.

4. The GEM, composed of internationally influential, renowned personages in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, is working actively in the field by drawing upon experiences and insights of its members. The upcoming meeting is expected to seek ways to strengthen the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and to expedite the CTBT’s entry into force to that end; express hope for an early conclusion of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue; and send a strong message to North Korea urging its denuclearization, including by carrying out no more nuclear tests.

◦ The GEM will adopt a Seoul Declaration reflecting the outcome of the meeting. In the document, the group will call for efforts toward the CTBT’s early entry into force; and urge North Korea to stop nuclear tests and sign and ratify the CTBT.


* unofficial translation