Yoon's Speech Missing the Word 'North'... Peace as the Goal, Prioritizing 'International Community Consensus'

"Threat to Peace from Nuclear Weapons and Human Rights Violations" Mentioned... Emphasizing 'International Solidarity' While Avoiding Provocation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] There was no direct message to North Korea. The word "North Korea," which President Yoon Suk-yeol had consistently mentioned since his inauguration speech in May and on Liberation Day, did not appear in his "UN stage debut." President Yoon repeatedly presented "freedom solidarity" to the world but did not use expressions such as "North Korean nuclear weapons" or "peace on the Korean Peninsula."

In his keynote speech at the 77th United Nations General Assembly held in New York on the 20th (local time), President Yoon stated, "The world's freedom and peace are threatened by complex economic and security crises," and emphasized, "The international community must unite to protect the value of freedom." On this day, President Yoon mentioned "freedom" 21 times, emphasizing the importance of "freedom solidarity," following his May inauguration speech and August 15 Liberation Day address.

On the other hand, words related to "North Korea" were completely absent from this speech. Earlier, the presidential office had mentioned that while peace on the Korean Peninsula would be referenced, the content of the "Bold Initiative" previously proposed to North Korea would not be repeated. The priority was judged to be expanding consensus in the international community with the core purpose of peace in the speech.

There was a passage indirectly targeting North Korea, stating, "The freedom and peace of world citizens are threatened by nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, and collective human rights violations." Considering North Korea's recent rejection of the "Bold Initiative" proposal and its increasing criticism toward President Yoon and our government, this is interpreted as a veiled message. The phrase "True peace is not merely the absence of war" was also mentioned in the same context.

A presidential office official explained, "There is nothing more to add or subtract from the 'Bold Initiative' already announced regarding the message to North Korea," adding, "The macro message of international solidarity based on freedom could also be interpreted as a message to North Korea."

Earlier, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and sister of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, criticized the "Bold Initiative" last month in a statement, calling it "nonsense" and "absurd talk." She also claimed it was no different from the "Non-nuclear, Openness, 3000" initiative during the Lee Myung-bak administration and expressed a stance of non-acceptance.

Meanwhile, North Korea is scheduled to deliver its keynote speech at this UN General Assembly on the 26th. The speaker will be Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the UN. North Korea is expected to raise demands for easing or lifting UN Security Council sanctions against it.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.