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UN chief ‘looks forward’ to progress on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula

President Moon Jae-in (right) of the Republic of Korea greets Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-Un of the DPRK in Panmunjeom, during the April 2018 inter-Korean summit.
Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps
President Moon Jae-in (right) of the Republic of Korea greets Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-Un of the DPRK in Panmunjeom, during the April 2018 inter-Korean summit.

UN chief ‘looks forward’ to progress on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula

Peace and Security

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un’s commitment on Wednesday, to continue working towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 

“The Secretary-General commends the continued momentum and efforts by both Koreas to further trust-building and reconciliation, in line with the Panmunjom Declaration,” his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement released on Thursday. 

Mr. Dujarric added that the UN chief “looks forward to further progress at the inter-Korean summit later this month towards sustainable peace, security, and complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.”

According to news reports, the Republic of Korea’s national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, said that Mr. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea (formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK) from 18-20 September, to discuss denuclearization measures – marking the first time that the North Korean leader has offered a potential timeline for fully dismantling his country's nuclear weapons programme.