Kim Gun: "The International Community Will Never Recognize North Korea's Nuclear Possession"

'North Korea Nuclear Chief Representative' Head of the Inter-Korean Peace Negotiation Headquarters
Visited the 20th Overseas Regional Meeting of the National Unification Advisory Council
"North Korea's Provocation Is an Exaggeration to Gain Recognition of Its Nuclear Capability"

Kim Geon, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Peace Negotiation Headquarters on the Korean Peninsula, presenting at the Overseas Regional Conference of the National Unification Advisory Council [Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Kim Gun, South Korea's chief representative for North Korean nuclear issues and head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Peaceful Settlement of the Korean Peninsula, emphasized that the international community will never recognize North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 30th, Kim made these remarks during a presentation titled "North Korean Nuclear and North Korea Issues and Our Diplomatic Response" at the 20th Overseas Regional Conference of the National Unification Advisory Council held in Seoul the previous day.

Kim pointed out that North Korea's record number of ballistic missile provocations and nuclear threats this year are attempts to exaggerate and flaunt its nuclear capabilities beyond reality. He explained that this is part of a long-standing strategy to induce the international community to give up on denuclearization and recognize their nuclear possession.

He stressed that resolving international issues through dialogue and diplomacy requires long-term and consistent efforts, and that the principle of achieving North Korean denuclearization maintained by the South Korean and U.S. governments over the past 30 years will never waver. He also cited the example of how the international community, including the United Nations, had to persistently and unitedly work for over 40 years to resolve South Africa's apartheid racial segregation policy.

He asserted that if the international community shows a clear will to continue efforts to deter North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, North Korea will inevitably have to return to denuclearization talks.

In particular, he explained that allied countries are discussing ways to designate overlapping and cross-referenced targets for independent sanctions to achieve stronger effects against North Korea. He also introduced allied countries' cooperative efforts to suppress illegal cyber activities, which have emerged as a major funding source for North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

He added that they are deeply preparing comprehensive deterrence measures against North Korea, including strengthening the effectiveness of the U.S. extended deterrence.

Kim stated that he will continue diplomatic efforts to encourage North Korea to respond to the "Bold Initiative" based on the consensus of the international community, and urged the National Unification Advisory Council to continue actively contributing to the achievement of sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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