North Korea Foreign Ministry on 'US Security Council Presidency Statement Discussion': "Irresponsible Recklessness"

"A Very Dangerous Act That Will Be Countered with Action"

United Nations Security Council
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has strongly opposed the United States' efforts to draft a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidential statement condemning North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch, while the US is discussing the draft with council members.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement on the 23rd, "The United States is now attempting to fabricate a UNSC 'presidential statement' condemning our exercise of the right to self-defense," adding, "We have already clearly warned that such a foolish attempt by the US could bring very unfavorable consequences."

They continued, "Whether it is a 'presidential statement' or something else, adopting a document under the name of the UN that targets our legitimate right to self-defense is ultimately a disregard for the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and a serious attempt at interference in our internal affairs," and argued, "Trying to seize the right to self-defense, which is the core of national sovereignty, means not recognizing our autonomy and sovereignty, constituting the most serious challenge to a sovereign state, and a very dangerous act that we must retaliate against with action."

In particular, they threatened, "We are strictly observing the reckless provocations by the United States, which continuously engage in provocations they cannot take responsibility for."

The United States is currently drafting the UNSC presidential statement and circulating the draft among council members. The draft reportedly includes language that "strongly condemns" North Korea's ICBM test launch on the 18th of last month and warns against North Korea's violations of existing UNSC resolutions. It is also said to urge North Korea to halt nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches and return to the dialogue table.

The US sharing the draft with council members is interpreted as an effort to maintain momentum for international discussions amid a lack of significant progress in UNSC deliberations to stop North Korea's provocations for over a month.

Meanwhile, it remains unconfirmed whether this draft presidential statement will be formally submitted to the UNSC meeting as is, or the schedule for adopting the presidential statement.

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