Jon Ki Chol, director of the Maritime Administration of the DPRK who is the head of its delegation, said this in his speech made at the 29th session of the Assembly of the IMO on Nov. 24.

He referred to the special significance of the session and great successes made by the Secretariat of IMO and its member states in the field of the maritime safety and environmental protection and mentioned the issues for the organization to enhance its mission and role.

He went on;

The DPRK Government attached great importance to the development of the national shipping transportation to ensure enhancement of the people's living standards and building of a thriving nation.

The national legislation including the Law on Ship Safety, Law on Prevention of Marine Pollution, Law on Seafarers, etc. were fully updated to comply with the mandatory IMO instruments and mechanisms for their implementation have been established and implemented.

The DPRK took various actions to encourage law-abiding spirit among the shipping companies and seafarers through celebrating events and meetings on the World Maritime Days in 2014 and 2015 under the themes of effective implementation of IMO instruments and maritime education and training.

With regard to maritime search and rescue, the ongoing program is being implemented to introduce the Search and Rescue Information System to MRCC of the DPRK in accordance with the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan. This aims at timeliness and optimization of the onsite SAR operations of the MRSCs and coastal stations along the east and west coasts of the country.

The above activities will surely contribute to the efforts of the international community to ensure maritime safety and security and marine environmental protection for clean oceans.