North Korea's UN Ambassador: "Legalization of Nuclear Forces Due to the US... Does Not Recognize UN Sanctions"

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Kim Sung-yu, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, claimed on the 26th (local time) that North Korea's policy of nuclear armament legislation is due to the hostile policies of the United States. He also strongly condemned the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.

Through his speech at the 77th United Nations General Assembly general debate held at the UN headquarters in New York, Ambassador Kim stated, "The more the United States' hostile policies and military intimidation increase, the stronger our power becomes."

First, Ambassador Kim asserted, "The United States is currently attempting to conduct joint naval exercises around the Korean Peninsula that cause very serious concerns," adding, "This is clearly a very dangerous act that ignites the fuse driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula toward a war flashpoint."

He referred to North Korea's recent formalization of its nuclear armament policy, which includes the preemptive use of tactical nuclear weapons, and pointed out, "We must clearly understand that the insidious hostile policies of the United States over the past 30 years have created today's reality." This is a warning that the more the U.S. increases its hostile policies and pressure, the more North Korea will respond strongly.

Ambassador Kim also strongly opposed the UN sanctions. Citing a part of President Joe Biden's UN General Assembly speech stating, "North Korea continues to blatantly violate UN sanctions," he dismissed this by saying, "We have never recognized the UN sanctions unilaterally created and pressured by the United States, and we will not recognize them in the future."

Regarding the UN Security Council, which discusses sanctions against North Korea, he claimed, "The Security Council discussing the exercise of the legitimate right of self-defense by a sovereign state itself is a contradictory act that denies the fundamental spirit of the UN Charter, which stipulates equality and non-interference in internal affairs."

Ambassador Kim's speech reaffirmed North Korea's existing stance that its nuclear weapons development is due to threats from the United States. However, unlike last year when he showed a conciliatory gesture by saying, "If the double standards are withdrawn with boldness, we are ready to respond willingly," this year’s approximately 18-minute speech conveyed a much tougher message throughout. There was no mention of South Korea.

Ambassador Kim raised his voice, saying, "The international order claimed by the United States is an imperialistic power structure that places U.S. interests above international law and demands other countries to obey it," accusing the United States of undermining the foundation of international peace and security.