Ban Ki-Moon expresses condolences on death of DPR Korea minister, hopes talks not affected

Offering his condolences today on the death of the Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his hope that this would not affect the Six-Party Process aimed at achieving a denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

“The Secretary-General expresses his condolences for the death of Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with whom he worked for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula over the years,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General hopes that the death of Foreign Minister Paek does not, in any case, hinder the ongoing Six-Party Process or the way for North Korea’s foreign policy to open up to the international community,” she added, referring to the diplomatic process involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Mr. Ban was formerly the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea but took over on 1 January as Secretary-General, replacing Kofi Annan who stepped down after 10 years at the UN’s helm.