Cho Hyun, UN Ambassador: "The Declaration of the End of War Is Not Pursued Without Denuclearization"

National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Audit
"Taking North Korea's Strategic Weapons Disclosure Seriously... Must Further Lead North Korea to the Peace Process"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Cho Hyun, South Korea's ambassador to the UN, stated that the 'Korean Peninsula End-of-War Declaration' mentioned by President Moon Jae-in in his UN General Assembly speech is not being pursued without resolving denuclearization.

On the 14th, Ambassador Cho appeared at a virtual National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit and was asked whether the international community would recognize and support pursuing an end-of-war declaration without North Korea's denuclearization. He replied, "Currently, the end-of-war declaration itself is not being pursued without resolving denuclearization."

He added, "The government's basic stance considers permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and complete denuclearization as two non-negotiable goals," and "The government’s position is that one cannot be sacrificed to achieve the other."

Regarding the reactions of various countries following President Moon's UN speech, he noted positive responses. He said, "After the speech, several ambassadors who are close friends of mine immediately sent text messages saying it was a very excellent speech and congratulated the president on his efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula."

During the audit, there were also repeated remarks on the need for the international community's response to the shooting incident involving a South Korean official by North Korean forces. Ambassador Cho stated, "I mentioned this in my keynote speech at the UN General Assembly general debate and strongly urged North Korea to investigate the facts of the incident and restore communication lines," adding, "Since this was addressed to all UN member states, it could not have been stronger."

Regarding the strategic weapons revealed at North Korea's Workers' Party 75th anniversary military parade on the 10th, he took a cautious stance. Ambassador Cho said, "Personally, I took it very seriously, but there were also mentions of improving inter-Korean relations," and "Because of the concerns, I thought we need to lead North Korea more firmly into the peace process to achieve permanent peace."