Seoul: South Korea reiterated its “firm” goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, after a senior North Korean diplomat pledged never to give up nuclear weapons during a speech at the United Nations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the South Korean Foreign Ministry stated that denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula remains the unwavering goal of the international community, including South Korea and the United States. The Ministry emphasized that the United Nations has consistently urged North Korea to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula through a series of Security Council resolutions.

In his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, North Korean Foreign Minister Undersecretary Kim Son-gyong reiterated North Korea’s stance that it will never abandon its nuclear program “under any circumstances.” He argued that imposing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is equivalent to demanding North Korea give up its sovereignty and right to exist.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the South Korean government has declared its three-pronged principle of respecting the North Korean regime, not seeking unification through assimilation, and not engaging in hostile acts. The Ministry also stated that Seoul will continue its diplomatic efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence and mutual development through comprehensive dialogue, closely coordinating with the United States.