Yoon and UN Secretary-General Guterres... "North Korea's Nuclear and Missile Programs Pose a Major Challenge to World Peace"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 12th, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a luncheon meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, exchanging views on major global issues including the North Korean nuclear issue, regional situations, climate change, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). President Yoon stated, "Our government values solidarity and cooperation to uphold the international order based on universal values and norms."

That afternoon, President Yoon met with Secretary-General Guterres at the Yongsan Presidential Office for lunch and said, "We will fulfill responsibilities and roles befitting our status in areas such as climate change, development cooperation, peacebuilding, and human rights."

In particular, President Yoon and Secretary-General Guterres exchanged opinions on the history and issues of the North Korean nuclear problem, sharing the recognition that North Korea's advancement of nuclear weapons and missiles poses a significant challenge not only to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime but also to peace in Northeast Asia and the world. Based on his experience visiting North Korea in 1991, Secretary-General Guterres expressed his views on the situation in North Korea and said, "I will continue to support the government's efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue."

Secretary-General Guterres also remarked, "South Korea, which has risen to become an advanced country in a short period, is a model for the international community," adding, "Korea's contributions have a great impact on other countries as well." He continued, "I look forward to our government continuing to strengthen cooperation with the UN in the fields of international peace and security, human rights, development, and climate change."