South Korea, US and Japan condemn North Korea's nuclear program at disarmament conference in Geneva

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : February 27, 2025, 14:25 Updated : February 27, 2025, 14:25
 
Kim Il-hoon Counselor of the South Korean Permanent Mission to Geneva delivers a joint statement on behalf of South Korea the US and Japan during the high-level session of the UN Conference on Disarmament at the UN Office in Geneva on Feb 26 2025 Yonhap
Kim Il-hoon, South Korea's deputy permanent representatives to the UN, speaks at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2025. Yonhap
SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons program at the annual UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva which wrapped up this week.

The three countries warned in a joint statement on Wednesday that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are "in clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions."

"It is deeply regrettable that [North Korea] persists in distorting reality and disseminating false information about its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs," said Kim Il-hoon, South Korea's deputy permanent representatives to the UN.

He added the renegade country "deployed its troops to Russia and they have engaged in combat against Ukraine in addition to transferring deadly munitions and ballistic missiles to Russia."

He then clarified, "The international community has been consistent and resolute that the [North] cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state in accordance with the NPT under any circumstances. We once again call on Pyongyang to abandon its WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and return to dialogue for denuclearization."

However, North Korea reiterated its customary claim that the primary cause of instability on the Korean Peninsula stems from the "reckless actions" and "hostile approaches" by the U.S. and its allies.

"[Pyongyang's] position of nuclear deterrent is legitimate measures for self-defense to protect its sovereignty and the right to existence from the direct threat from the U.S. which has pursued extremely hostile policy for over 70 years," said Ju Yong-chol, counselor at North Korea's permeant mission to the UN in Geneva.

But Washington did not participate the previous day in a joint statement by 39 countries condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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