UN Envoy: South Korea Firm on Peace, Denuclearization for Korean Peninsula

At the United Nations Security Council, South Korea's Ambassador to the UN, Cha Hyuk-soo, delivered a clear and resolute message: the path to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula lies in dialogue and denuclearization. Speaking at a meeting focused on North Korean non-proliferation, Ambassador Cha reiterated Seoul's unwavering commitment to a vision of peaceful coexistence, fundamentally rooted in reconciliation rather than confrontation.

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Since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, South Korea has pursued a vision for a peaceful Korean Peninsula based on reconciliation and cooperation, not hostility and confrontation.

Ambassador Cha directly addressed North Korea, urging Pyongyang to engage constructively at the negotiating table. He acknowledged North Korea's justification of its nuclear program based on perceived hostility from South Korea, but firmly restated Seoul's position of respecting the North's regime. This nuanced approach highlights South Korea's delicate balancing act: maintaining a firm stance on denuclearization while keeping channels for communication open.

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North Korea cannot possess the status of a nuclear-weapon state.

The ambassador's remarks also touched upon the broader implications of North Korea's nuclear ambitions within the global non-proliferation framework. He stressed that North Korea cannot achieve the status of a nuclear-weapon state and warned that abandoning the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula would severely undermine long-term global non-proliferation efforts. This underscores the international dimension of the Korean Peninsula issue, emphasizing its significance beyond regional politics.

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We urge North Korea to respond to our sincere efforts for reconciliation, cooperation, and meaningful dialogue, and to fulfill its obligations under international law.

Furthermore, Ambassador Cha voiced serious concerns regarding the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He pointed to the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine and the "illicit military cooperation" between the two nations as direct violations of UN sanctions and a threat to regional security. This condemnation, met with a defense of such cooperation from the Russian Ambassador, Vsevolod Nebenzia, highlights the growing international scrutiny and division surrounding North Korea's foreign policy and its implications for global stability. From a South Korean perspective, this illicit cooperation is not merely a violation of UN resolutions but a direct impediment to peace on the peninsula.

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The military and other cooperation between North Korea and Russia is not aimed at third countries and does not pose a threat to the region or the international community.