We need to heed the lessons of history: UN chief on Korean Peninsu

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Wed, 16 Aug 2017 - 10:30 GMT

BY

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 - 10:30 GMT

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Press conference on Korean Peninsula Crisis‎ - Photo credit UN News Center

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Press conference on Korean Peninsula Crisis‎ - Photo credit UN News Center

CAIRO – 17 August 2017: United Nations Secretary-General (SG) Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the tensions related to the Korean Peninsula crisis are “at levels not seen in decades,” according to the U.N. news center.




Guterres noted also that the potential consequences of military action “are too horrific to even contemplate,” reminding the world of the three million people who died in the devastating Korean War from 1950-1953. The SG said, “We need to heed the lessons of history, not repeat the mistakes.”

Furthermore, the SG stressed that there is no other solution to the crisis but through political dialogue to build confidence, defuse the tension and de-nuclearize the peninsula, referring that he, in his capacity as the U.N. chief, is ready to broker any talks regarding the crisis. “I will remain in close contact with all concerned parties and stand ready to assist in any way,” said Guterres. The U.N. chief also welcomed the “call of the Republic of Korea to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to engage in credible and meaningful dialogue.”

Guterres had the same message delivered on Tuesday during his meeting with the representatives of the Six-Party Talks, which includes China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the U.S. The U.N. Security Council in August toughened sanctions on North Korea’s exports, including coal, iron and iron ore, by unanimously adopting Resolution 2371, in a message to the DPRK to fully comply with international obligations cease from going on with its missile tests.

The SG said that the resolution sends “an unambiguous message regarding the peace and security obligations” of the DPRK, while also representing “an opportunity to solve this crisis through diplomatic engagement and renewed dialogue.”
Tension between the U.S. and North Korea was sparked when the latter announced developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. U.S. President Donald Trump replied to this announcement last week by saying that the U.S. military is "locked and loaded" to unleash "fire and fury" if North Korea continued to threaten the U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said that he would fire missile tests toward Guam, a U.S. Pacific island territory. North Korea also warned that it could also fire test missiles towards Japan.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during a press conference for the release the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report that the U.S. is interested in dialogue with North Korea, adding that the ball is in North Korea’s court by stopping the missile tests.

On Tuesday, North Korean media reported that Kim Jong-Un delayed the decision to fire the missiles while waiting to see what the U.S. will do next. Trump praised North Korea for the wise decision.




However, on Wednesday, Japanese and U.S. military carried out live-fire training in northern Japan following the tense war of words between the U.S. and North Korea. The U.S. Defense Department spokesperson denied any link between the drill and the recent regional tension over North Korea. "This is not conducted with a particular country or region in mind," he said according to AFP


International reactions to the crisis:

The tense situation in the Korean Peninsula is threatening the world of a third world war. Several countries have declared their position of the crisis, confirming that it can only be solved via diplomatic channels to spare the world a devastating disaster. These countries include Russia, Germany and China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that it is urgent that the U.S. and North Korea "put the brakes" on mutually irritating words and actions. China was upset with this drill and said that it did nothing to ease tensions. Later on Wednesday, the head of the U.S. military visited Beijing, where he said that it is urgent for China to step up to put pressure on North Korea, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

From her side, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that tensions in the Korean Peninsula could only be solved by negotiation. She also said that she was doing everything possible to achieve a peaceful resolution.

The New York Times published an article quoting experts that North Korea may have purchased rocket engines from Ukraine, which on Monday denied supplying defense technology to North Korea. "Ukraine has never supplied rocket engines or any kind of missile technology to North Korea," said the secretary of Ukraine's Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov, in a statement.

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