Annan urges US, DPR of Korea to seek peaceful way out of nuclear dispute

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to find a peaceful way out of the dispute arising out of Pyongyang’s decision to produce nuclear weapons.

“I know that governments in the region, including China in particular, are trying to make efforts to work with the parties to find a peaceful way out and I would urge the parties to really engage and find a peaceful way out of this conflict,” Mr. Annan told reporters on arrival at UN Headquarters in New York.

Asked whether he had a particular recipe or prescription, he replied: “Well, I have some ideas but the parties would want to do it themselves. In fact I’ve been in touch with both parties and the US has made it clear that they would want to discuss this in a certain forum and the North Koreans have their ideas, and here the Chinese Government and others are trying to help to find a way that would be acceptable to both and to allow us to move forward on this issue.”

The United States wants to discuss the conflict in a multilateral forum with the DPRK’s neighbours, including China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, while Pyongyang is seeking bilateral talks with Washington.

Video of the Secretary-General speaking to reporters