Seoul: South Korea on Tuesday reaffirmed its “consistent” goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula after a senior North Korean diplomat vowed to never give up nuclear weapons during an address at the United Nations. “Denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is the consistent goal of the international community, including South Korea and the United States,” the foreign ministry stated.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry emphasized that the United Nations has been advocating for North Korea to denuclearize through various Security Council resolutions. This stance was reiterated following North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong’s address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Kim asserted North Korea’s position of maintaining its nuclear program, describing denuclearization demands as an infringement on the nation’s sovereignty and right to existence.

The South Korean foreign ministry reiterated the government’s three-point principle: respecting the North Korean regime, not pursuing unification by absorption, and avoiding hostile actions. Seoul remains committed to pursuing peaceful coexistence and mutual growth through comprehensive dialogue, in close coordination with the United States.