Moon urges to U.N. to play greater role in ending N. Korean nuclear standoff

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the United Nations on Thursday to play a greater role in peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, calling it the most urgent challenge facing the world body.

In his first address to the U.N. General Assembly, Moon also stressed that the international community should deal sternly with North Korea until it voluntarily gives up its nuclear programs while seeking new sanctions in response to provocations.

"The most important role demanded of the United Nations today is to seek a fundamental solution that can stop the vicious cycle of provocations and sanctions," Moon said in the address.

The speech was watched closely as it came just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned in his inaugural address to the U.N. that the U.S., if it's forced to defend itself and allies, will "totally destroy North Korea."

This year's General Assembly took place as tensions on the Korean Peninsula rose sharply in recent months after Pyongyang carried out a series of missile launches, two of them involving intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as its sixth nuclear test.

Calling it a direct violation of the U.N. Charter, as well as a U.N. Security Council resolution that specifically prohibit the communist state from any nuclear or missile activities, the South Korean president called for efforts to completely denuclearize the North.

"North Korea must quickly acknowledge these immovable facts. It must immediately give up its reckless decisions that lead to self isolation and collapse, and come to the dialogue table. I urge North Korea to give up its hostile policy and give up its nuclear weapons in a verifiable and irreversible manner," he said.

He also called for stepped up efforts by the international community.

"The international community's efforts too must be intensified. We must strongly and firmly deal with North Korea until the country voluntarily gives up its nukes."

However, Moon also stressed the importance of keeping tension under control.

"All our efforts are to prevent war and maintain peace. And that is why we must safely control the situation surrounding the North Korean nuclear issue so that we do not excessively raise tension and make sure an accidental military clash will not destroy peace," he said.

Moon stressed the need to launch multilateral dialogue with the North to maintain peace.

"It is the Korean Peninsula where the U.N. spirit of realizing global peace through multilateral dialogue is most urgently needed," he said.

The South Korean president also sought to bring North Korea to the dialogue table with assurances for peace.

"I once again clarify to North Korea and the international community before the U.N. General Assembly where we pledge our commitment to global peace and prosperity of mankind. We do not want North Korea's collapse. We will not seek unification by absorption or any other type of artificial unification," he said.

"We are ready to help North Korea together with the international community as soon as North Korea makes a decision to be on the right side of history."

Despite the North's latest nuclear provocation, Seoul decided to provide up to US$8 million worth of humanitarian aid to the impoverished North on Thursday (Seoul time), though it said the exact timing of the assistance will be determined later.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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