“According to Hungary’s consistently voiced standpoint, North Korea is being led by a “mad communist dictator”, and the country represents a security threat to the whole world”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared on Monday in Luxembourg in the recess of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Mr. Szijjártó told the press that at the council meeting Hungary had once again stressed that in addition to the resolutions issues by the UN Security Council, the European Union should implement unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang.

As he explained, on Monday EU foreign ministers are preparing to adopt a proposal for a full investment ban and oil embargo in which they will also be calling for a stop to the employment of foreign workers employed within the European Union who support North Korea’s arms programme.

The package of proposals also includes the fact that the maximum amount that can be paid by bank transfer without special authorisation should be decreased from 15 thousand euros to 5 thousand euros.

“This is the strictest package of measures in the history of the European Union”, the Minister underlined.

Mr. Szijjártó also told reporters that in the interests of its own security, regional security and global security, the EU regards it as important to maintain its nuclear agreement with Iran, highlighting that Hungary trusts in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and that the Agency has so far determined on eight occasions that Iran is fulfilling its obligations according to the agreement.

“For this reason, Hungary fully supports joint EU action in the interests of maintaining the agreement with Iran, since this agreement enables a major player, Iran, to also be made a part of international cooperation to a certain level, which contributes to the region’s stability”, he said.

“If the opportunity to cooperate were to be lost, the Iran’s role and situation could also act as a destabilising element outside the region in the country’s broader environment, which could also represent a security risk to Europe”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade emphasised.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)