Cho Hyun, UN Ambassador: "No Declaration of End of War Without Denuclearization"

Cho Hyun, UN Ambassador, Foreign Affairs Committee Audit
"Permanent Peace and Complete Denuclearization, Non-Negotiable Goals"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Cho Hyun, South Korean Ambassador to the UN, said on the 13th (local time) regarding President Moon Jae-in's UN General Assembly speech, "I do not think that the declaration of the end of the war itself is being pursued without resolving denuclearization."

Cho Hyun, South Korean Ambassador to the UN, attended the Overseas Diplomatic Mission Video Audit at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly on the 14th and is giving a work report. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the same day, Ambassador Cho responded this way to a question from Park Jin, a member of the People's Party, during a video audit by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, asking whether the international community would support pursuing a declaration of the end of the war without resolving denuclearization.

Ambassador Cho stated, "The basic position of our government is permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and complete denuclearization, which are two non-negotiable goals," adding, "The government’s position is that one cannot be sacrificed to achieve the other."

Regarding the reactions of various countries to President Moon's UN speech, he introduced, "After the speech, several ambassadors who are close friends of mine immediately sent text messages saying, 'It was a very excellent speech, and we congratulate the president's efforts for establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.'"

Concerning criticism that South Korea was excluded from the joint sponsors of the UN North Korea human rights resolution, he said, "(Regarding the vote) we continue to support it," and added, "Ultimately, since it is about reaching consensus, there is no significant difference."

There were also calls for active international community responses to the North Korean military’s shooting and killing of a South Korean official in the West Sea. In response, Ambassador Cho said, "I mentioned this in my keynote speech at the UN General Assembly's general debate, and strongly urged North Korea to conduct an investigation into the truth of the incident and to restore communication lines," adding, "Since this was addressed to all UN member states, it could not have been stronger."