The European Union attaches great importance to nuclear safety and the environment and, consequently, understands the Republic of Korea's concerns over Taiwanese intentions to ship 60,000 barrels of low-level nuclear waste from Taiwan for storage in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The European Union points out that the transport and storage of such radioactive waste should take place in full respect of international safety standards and IAEA guidelines pertaining to the export, transport and disposal of nuclear waste, including low-level waste.

The European Union holds that, although neither DPRK nor Taiwan are members of the IAEA, nevertheless the IAEA should be invited to advise on and, possibly, monitor compliance with above guidelines in this particular case.