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| North Korea Criticizes and Condemns UN Secretary General's Call for Denuclearization |
Pyongyang - North Korea criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his "dangerous words" after he called for the complete and verifiable denuclearization of Pyongyang during a visit to Seoul.
Guterres, who is in South Korea on a two-day visit, expressed a "clear commitment" to North Korea's denuclearization. He called it a fundamental goal of bringing peace, security and stability to the entire region.
Guterres' comments come as US and South Korean officials have repeatedly warned that North Korea is preparing to carry out what would be its seventh nuclear test.
But North Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong lashed out at the UN secretary-general, accusing him of showing "sympathy" for the United States' hostile policies. "I cannot help but express deep regret over the remarks by the Secretary-General of the United Nations which have been very impartial and unfair," he said in a statement as quoted from the Straits Times, Sunday (14/8/2022).
Kim said North Korea's complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization is a violation of the country's sovereignty. "We advise Secretary-General Guterres to exercise caution in making dangerous words and deeds such as pouring gasoline on a fire," he added.
On Thursday, Pyongyang blamed Seoul for the Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea and threatened to "exterminate" Seoul's authorities. North Korea has conducted record-breaking weapons tests so far this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was ready to mobilize its nuclear deterrent in any future military conflict with the United States and South Korea.