U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomes on April 21 North Korea’s decision to suspend its nuclear tests and its missile launches. (U.N.)
By Sohn JiAe
The United Nations released a statement on April 21 welcoming North Korea’s announcement that further nuclear weapons tests would no longer be needed.
In the statement attributed to the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the U.N. said, “This positive step forward contributes to building trust and the longer process leading to the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The secretary general reiterates the commitment and support of the U.N. system in this endeavor.”
The statement added that, “We wish the leaders of South and North Korea, ahead of the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit on April 27, every success in their courageous and important task of resuming sincere dialogue that could lead to sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.” It continued, “Guterres commends the establishment of a direct telephone link between the two leaders, which he hopes will help to further build trust and narrow differences in understanding.”
The U.N. leader also mentioned Pyeongyang that day as he was hosting a retreat for U.N. Security Council members in Sweden. He said that, “The path is open for the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This also proves that diplomacy, not war, is the way to solve conflicts.”