N. Korean envoy vows stronger 'self
North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said Tuesday his country is "urgently" required to bolster its self-defense capabilities, claiming the Korean Peninsula faces the "immediate danger of nuclear war breakout."
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Ambassador Kim Song attributed the "current dangerous situation" to South Korea and the United States, lambasting a series of steps that the allies have taken to bolster deterrence against evolving North Korean threats.
"Given the prevailing circumstances, the DPRK is urgently required to further accelerate the build-up of its self-defense capabilities to defend itself impregnably," the ambassador said during his live-streamed speech. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"It is only too natural that the more the reckless military moves and provocations of the hostile forces are intensified …, the more our endeavors to enhance national defense capabilities would increase in direct proportion," he added.
Kim catalogued a series of defensive exercises between the US and South Korea namely the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group and repeated verbal warnings against the North's potential use of nuclear arms.
"From the beginning of the year, the US and the 'Republic of Korea' made hysterical remarks of confrontation such as 'end of the regime; and 'occupation of Pyongyang' in flagrant violation of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter," he said.
Calling South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol only by his name, Kim criticized Yoon's warning at the UN General Assembly that any arms deal between Russia and North Korea would be considered a "direct provocation" against South Korea.
"Development of equal and reciprocal relations between and among independent sovereign states is not an issue for the "ROK" to interfere in as it is no more than a colony of the US," Kim said.
He described the Yoon administration as a "puppet" government, accusing it of raising tensions.
"The Korean Peninsula is in a hair-trigger situation with imminent danger of nuclear war breakout," he said.
Kim Sang-jin, South Korea's deputy permanent representative to the UN, hit back, chastising the North for making "groundless, illogical and absurd" allegations.
"Do you really believe as the DPRK claims the Republic of Korea, together with the US, conspires to provoke a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula without reasons that will cause catastrophic casualties?," he asked. "How many member states in this chamber are seriously aligned with the DPRK's false assertions? My answer is clear: untrue, absolutely incorrect," he said. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:교육)
- Trilateral cooperation unaffected by US election outcomes: Goldberg
- [Herald Review] Ive gives a sneak peek of new album, kicks off first world tour with Seoul gigs
- Taemin of SHINee to drop new EP 'Guilty' on Oct. 30
- 'No Japan?' Korea swings from extreme rejection to selective embrace
- Cheong Wa Dae to open for winter night stroll event
- Samsung, LG, Hyundai closely monitoring potential biz fallout from Israel
- Kakao Bank to acquire 10% stake in Indonesian digital bank
- DB Robotics invents nation's first hybrid electric rollator
- Dog meat group threatens to release 2 million dogs near presidential office
- DB Robotics invents nation's first hybrid electric rollator
- 예술의전당 간 한동훈 화제 되자…野 "집에 스피커 두고 왜 가나"
- 'We overcame together': NCT127 returns on more solid ground
- Volvo EX30 debuts in Korea
- Hanwha showcases ground weapons systems at US trade fair
- S. Korea's heavyweights like ex
- US eases export controls on chip equipment for Samsung, SK factories in China
- 'We overcame together': NCT127 returns on more solid ground
- Seoul shares open higher on US gains; Israel
- Trilateral cooperation unaffected by US election outcomes: Goldberg
- Seoul shares end lower amid conflict in Middle East
- Top chefs gather to create innovative dishes with Korean ingredients views+
- Park Bom to return with new single ‘I’ views+
- Jungkook's 'Golden' hits No. 2 on Billboard 200 with biggest views+
- 야당, 노란봉투·방송3법 강행…여당, 필리버스터 예고 views+
- Han Kang wins Prix Medicis for 'I Do Not Bid Farewell' views+
- Journey to Joseon scholars' timeless dwellings views+
- Kumho Petrochemical comits to net zero by 2050 views+
- 尹 대통령 “새마을정신 되새겨 혁신과 창의로 뭉쳐야” views+
- Jungkook adopts guerilla tactics for 'Golden' promotion views+
- CATL reduces gap with LG Energy Solution views+