Honourable Presiding Officers distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea has always striven to establish prosperous relations with all friendly countries, on principles of complete equality, independence, mutual respect, non-interference in each others affairs, and mutual benefit. We look forward to this General Assembly session and hope these principles can be respected accordingly. To tackle the first agenda item, we would like to stress that we believe that animal torture and bad fur farm conditions are a guilt of capitalistic need to meet the deadlines and reach international markets targets. Perversely, species are valuedeconomically, not ecologicallyto the degree that they become endangered. Animals are more important dead than alive. Regardless our obvious contempt towards capitalism, we will support any protection of fur trade. We do not desire any new economic sanctions upon DPRK, since they have already created social disruption and material deprivation including dramatic declines in resources that are essential for health of our citizens. At this point we want to emphasise that we support also the efforts for granting equal rights to smaller ethnic groups in other countries. DPRK recognises that inter-ethnic conflicts are a part of the contemporary international community, including a number of inter-state conflicts involving different minorities that severely threaten international peace and security. We are highly homogeneous country and we provide
equal opportunities to all our citizens. We deal with other countries on the basis of "non-interference in each other's internal affairs and this is a principle which we will insist on respecting on the agenda issue of minorities and inter-ethnic affairs accordingly.

This principle however should not be applied to the topic of global environmental issues that affect our quality of life and disable our opportunities for sustainable development. We believe that mainstreaming environmental considerations into development activities is an essential component of advanced planning for sustainable development and a necessary condition to make the earth as the foundation of life and happiness for the existence and development of humankind forever. The great leader comrade Kim Jong Il said that it is a fundamental demand of socialism: To provide more favourable natural environment for the existence and activities of human beings by conducting sound environment protection work. We will therefore support a consideration of a common environmental regime, as this is within the spirit of true socialism. Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea welcomes this General Assembly session and its agenda issues we hope to bring together positions and gather support from other participating countries that share our goals to address our common issues. Let us all strive for greater victory and common prosperity of mankind. Thank you.