Secretary-General Ban urges redoubling of efforts on denuclearizing Korean peninsula

Welcoming the recent discussions between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and United States negotiators in Berlin over the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all sides involved in the six-party process discussing the issue to redouble their efforts.

“The Secretary-General welcomes reports of active preparations for the next round of the six-party talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He is encouraged in particular by the recent positive discussions in Berlin between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and United States negotiators,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said.

“As consultations continue with other countries participating in the six-party talks, the Secretary-General calls on all involved to redouble their efforts toward implementation of the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005,” she added, referring to a commitment to denuclearize the peninsula that has so far not been acted upon.

The talks involve the DPRK, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States and have been going on sporadically in Beijing for several years, but have so far failed to end nuclear weapons on the peninsula. The DPRK carried out its first proclaimed nuclear test in October, after which the Security Council imposed various sanctions on the country.