Leaders Condemn North Korea’s Actions and Call for Diplomacy at United Nations General Assembly
This year’s general debate at the United Nations General Assembly has concluded, with leaders from around the globe delivering speeches on various pressing issues. Among the topics discussed, the leaders of the United States, South Korea, and Japan expressed their condemnation of North Korea’s repeated violations of Security Council resolutions and emphasized the need for a return to diplomacy. The issue of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea also took center stage, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Focus on the Korean Peninsula
The speeches delivered by world leaders during the general debate highlighted concerns related to the Korean Peninsula. US President Joe Biden, taking the podium on the first day of the debate, voiced his strong condemnation of North Korea’s continued defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. However, he reiterated the United States’ commitment to pursuing diplomatic solutions for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Both Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol also addressed the North Korean issue. Prime Minister Kishida proposed a meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un to address the nuclear issue and past abductions, stressing the importance of resolving these concerns comprehensively. President Yoon criticized the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, holding them responsible as a permanent member of the Security Council.
Concerns over Ukraine
Many countries attending the United Nations General Assembly expressed their concerns over the conflict in Ukraine, which was triggered by Russia’s invasion. They called on Russia to end the war, emphasizing the importance of ensuring security for all nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky drew significant attention with his personal appeal for support in overcoming the injustice caused by the Russian invasion.
Improving US-China Relations
Positive developments were observed in the relations between the United States and China during the general debate. President Biden omitted sensitive topics for China, such as the mention of the “Taiwan Strait” in his speech, signaling a willingness to improve bilateral ties. Chinese Vice President Han Han, representing China, also avoided direct reference to the United States in his speech, emphasizing opposition to hegemony, power politics, unilateralism, and Cold War mentalities.
North Korea’s Perspective
North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Kim Sung, addressed the Assembly, dismissing South Korea’s allegations of arms trading with Russia and emphasizing that the Korean Peninsula is on the brink of nuclear war. He supported North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities and attributed the dangerous situation on the peninsula to the United States’ pursuit of hegemony.
Next Steps at the United Nations General Assembly
With the general debate concluding, the United Nations General Assembly will now engage in full discussions on various topics, including military, economic, human rights, and legal issues. The North Korean issue is expected to be primarily addressed in the First Committee, which tackles nuclear and military matters, as well as the Third Committee, which focuses on human rights. Considering past discussions, it is likely that North Korea will argue against sanctions and the United Nations Command’s presence on the peninsula in the Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters.
Reporting from the United Nations Headquarters in New York, this is Ham Ji-ha for VOA News.
This year’s general debate at the United Nations General Assembly, where leaders from all over the world delivered speeches, has come to an end. The leaders of the United States, South Korea, and Japan condemned North Korea’s repeated violations of Security Council resolutions and called for a return to diplomacy. In addition, as the issue of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea was highlighted, many countries focused on the issue of Ukraine. Correspondent Ham Ji-ha reports from United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Video reporting: Kim Sun-myeong / Video editing: Cho Myung-soo)
In this year’s general debate at the United Nations General Assembly, which began on the 19th and ended on the 26th, leaders from around 90 countries, as well as vice presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and ambassadors rose from each country various problems facing the world and proposed solutions.
In particular, the leaders’ speeches related to the Korean Peninsula issues were covered.
As usual, US President Joe Biden took the podium for the second time after Brazil on the 19th, the first day of the general debate, and directly condemned North Korea, which continues to violate Security Council resolutions.
Joe Biden / President of the United States (last 19th)
“The United States condemns North Korea’s continued violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. However, we are committed to diplomacy for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Japan and South Korea also treated the North Korean issue as an important one.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida proposed meeting once again with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and abduction issues, while South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol criticized military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and he said that was the responsibility of a permanent member of the Security Council.
Fumio Kishida / Prime Minister of Japan (last 19th)
“In accordance with the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration (North Korea-Japan Pyongyang Declaration), Japan seeks to normalize relations with North Korea by comprehensively resolving unresolved issues of concern such as kidnapping, nuclear and missile issues, as well as agreements on unfortunate the history of the past. “From the point of view of opening a new era together, I convey my intention to sit down with Chairman Kim Jong-un at any time without conditions.”
Yoon Seok-yeol / President of Korea (last 20th)
“The reality is that permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, who are supposed to be the ultimate guardians of world peace, invade other sovereign countries by force, start war, and receive support from a regime that in direct violation of Security Council decisions with the weapons and supplies needed to pay for war. It contradicts itself.”
Representatives of many countries who attended the speech at the United Nations General Assembly raised the war in Ukraine, which was triggered by the Russian invasion, as a security concern and urged Russia to stop the war.
In particular, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky drew a lot of attention by making a speech in person and appealing for support to win the war and the injustice of the Russian invasion.
Changes were also found to improve relations between the United States and China.
President Biden did not include the content that China is sensitive to, such as the ‘Taiwan Strait’ mentioned last year or ‘China’s attempt to change the status quo’ in his speech.
Vice President Han Han, who attended as China’s representative, also said, “I oppose hegemony, power politics, unilateralism, and Cold War mentality,” but he did not directly mention the United States.
North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Kim Sung, appeared as a speaker again this year.
As an ambassador level speaker appeared, the order was the 10th and the 6th finally on the 26th, which was the last day of the general discussion.
Ambassador Kim countered South Korea’s criticism of the possibility of arms trading between North Korea and Russia, saying that it was not a matter of interference, and that the Korean Peninsula was on the brink of nuclear war at any time, adding that more reckless military adventures and challenges from hostile forces are intensifying. He supported North Korea’s claim as in previous years, saying that efforts to strengthen defense capabilities will also be directly contributing.
Kim Seong / North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations
“The reason that the situation in the Korean Peninsula has reached such a dangerous situation as it is today is because of the United States, which is overconfident in its power and trying to realize its ambition for hegemony.” Korea also bears a fair share of responsibility. ”
With the general discussion over, the United Nations General Assembly begins full discussions on various areas, including military, economy, human rights, and law.
The issue of North Korea is due to be dealt with mainly again this year by the First Committee, which deals with nuclear and military issues, and the Third Committee, which deals with human rights.
In addition, in the past, North Korea argued in the 6th Committee, which deals with laws, that sanctions against North Korea are unfair and that the United Nations Command located on the Korean Peninsula should be dismantled, and it’ It is very likely that the same logic will be presented this year as well.
This is VOA News’ Ham Ji-ha at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
#VOA #뉴스 #General #discussion #ended.. #Condemn #North #Korea #violating #Security #Council #resolutions
.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
