64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OUTER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000995 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OUTER SPACE 1.(U) The UN Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee) conducted its thematic debate on the cluster of resolutions on outer space on October 19. All states advocated for the peaceful uses of outerspace, and most supported movement towards a treaty or code of conduct on the issue. Japan exercised right of reply over statements by the DPRK about its offensive military policies in space, and China stated that its satellite missile test was a scientific experiment, not a military operation as the U.S. had stated. ¶2. Sweden on Behalf of the EU (U) Sweden said the EU wants to prevent an arms race in outerspace. It proposed a voluntary code of conduct by states that would "strengthen safety security and predictability of all space activities." Such a code would limit or minimize harmful interference, collisions or accidents in outer space, as well as the creation of debris. ¶3. Cuba (U) Cuba noted the legal instruments about outerspace, including a partial test-ban treaty and a treaty to govern activities on the moon and other celestial bodies. It advocated a prohibition of WMD and military activities in outerspace and a conference on the issue towards a new treaty on weapons in outer space. ¶4. China (U) China noted that the current system only limits nuclear weapons in space, not the use of force in outerspace. It advocated for states to seize the opportunity in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to clarify international consensus on the topic. China hoped that the CD would begin early negotiations on a treaty to prevent arms from reaching outer space. ¶5. Canada (U) Canada said it supports work towards the safe uses of outerspace. It stated that space security need to encompass not only the environmental, commercial and civil dimensions of space but also its military and national security dimensions. It believes in preventive diplomacy to "ensure that space will be secure from physical threats." ¶6. Republic of Korea (U) ROK stated that it is important that outerspace is peaceful because of its frequency of use. It supported the EU's proposal for a code of conduct and advocated addressing it at the CD. ¶7. Sri Lanka (U) Sri Lanka stated that the peaceful uses of outerspace are the common heritage of mankind and that current treaties do not adequately address this. To this end, it said it will introduce a draft resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outerspace. ¶8. Russia (U) Russia supported a working group in the CD that will work towards preventing an arms race in outerspace and a code of conduct. Russia stated that it will present a draft resolution on confidence-building measures in outer space. 9 DPRK (U) The DPRK stated that over 130 countries in the world use outerspace and that a monopoly of its use was no longer possible by one country. It claimed that the U.S. was attempting to develop a missile-defense shield using the DPRK's nuclear weapon and missile development programs as an excuse. The DPRK stated that due to the hostile nature of U.S. policy in North-east Asia it will need to strengthen its "defensive" nuclear capacity. It also claimed that Japan was using outerspace as way of pursuing an offensive policy. USUN NEW Y 00000995 002 OF 002 ¶10. Burkina Faso (U) Burkina Faso stated that the peaceful use of outerspace has brought tangible economic and humanitarian benefits to the world and noted its opposition to any military action or arms race in outerspace that would interfere with its peaceful use. ¶11. Brazil (U) Brazil advocated for the establishment of a subsidiary body of the CD to negotiate a multilateral agreement on the prevention of an arms race in outerspace. It stated that it wants to keep outer space free on any weapons or the threat of use of force. ¶12. Iran (U) Iran said it supports the peaceful use of outerspace. It stated that it was forced to develop and launch satellites due to restrictions imposed by other states. It said that existing legal instruments are inadequate for preventing and arms race in outerspace. (U) 13. Right of Reply: Japan responded to the statement by the DPRK, saying that the DPRK's reference about use of outerspace as a way of pursuing an offensive military policy was groundless. China responded to the U.S. statement and defined its test as a scientific experiment. China noted that its position on this subject was well known, and asked rhetorically which country leads in outer space weapons activity. Rice