UN North Korea Envoy Condemns "South Korea-US Joint Exercises Ignite War Fuse" (Comprehensive)

Kim Sung, North Korean Ambassador to the UN, Criticizes South Korea-US Joint Military Exercises
Shifts Responsibility to the US for Legalizing Preemptive Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, fiercely condemned the joint military exercises being conducted by South Korea and the United States in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.

He also warned of a tit-for-tat confrontation, stating that "the stronger the pressure, the stronger our (North Korea's) power becomes."

On the 26th (local time), Ambassador Kim, speaking at the general debate of the 77th UN General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York, said, "The United States is currently attempting to conduct joint naval exercises around the Korean Peninsula that are causing very serious concerns," adding, "This is clearly a highly dangerous act that ignites the fuse driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula toward a war flashpoint."

At this event, Ambassador Kim mentioned the legalization of the preemptive use of tactical nuclear weapons and placed the responsibility on the United States.

He warned, "We must clearly understand that the United States' malicious hostile policy over the past 30 years has created today's reality," and "The more the U.S. hostility and military intimidation against us intensify, the stronger our power to suppress it becomes." This is interpreted as justifying the legalization of nuclear force policy by blaming the U.S. and taking a confrontational stance.

Ambassador Kim also raised his voice in criticism of the UN's moves to impose sanctions on North Korea's development of weapons of mass destruction.

He stated, "We have never recognized the UN sanctions unilaterally created and pressured by the United States, and we will not recognize them in the future," adding, "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."

During his roughly 18-minute speech, Ambassador Kim did not mention South Korea at all. Although he used the phrase "the United States and its followers" several times, the context suggests that he was referring broadly to the entire alliance of the United States rather than specifically to South Korea.

Experts interpreted Ambassador Kim's speech tone as evidence that the possibility of North Korea-U.S. or inter-Korean dialogue is low and that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is in a phase of tit-for-tat confrontation.

North Korea has also shown little response to South Korea-U.S. proposals for contact to discuss humanitarian aid related to the COVID-19 situation, as well as denuclearization. Earlier, on the 20th (local time), President Yoon Suk-yeol also did not make any specific mention of North Korea in his UN General Assembly speech.

Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies said, "North Korea will likely emphasize its right to self-defense while justifying the termination of the moratorium," adding, "North Korea may provoke by raising issues with South Korea-U.S. joint exercises in the future."

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "By showing domestically and internationally that the strengthening of nuclear forces is not empty talk, the focus domestically is on consolidating the regime centered on Kim Jong-un," and "Externally, it is analyzed that there is also an intention to pave the way for the 7th nuclear test while exploring South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence, such as the deployment of U.S. nuclear aircraft carriers to the Korean Peninsula."

Meanwhile, Bae Jong-in, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UN, requested to speak and said, "North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missiles are not only illegal but also acts that seriously threaten regional and international peace and security," adding, "The South Korea-U.S. joint exercises are to respond to North Korea's military threats." This was a rebuttal to North Korea's claim that nuclear development is due to U.S. hostile policies.

Deputy Ambassador Bae stated, "We strongly urge North Korea to fulfill its obligations under Security Council resolutions, cease all provocations, and return to denuclearization talks."

In response, a representative from North Korea's UN mission requested to speak, saying, "We reject the provocative remarks from the South Korean side," and repeated Ambassador Kim's claims, stating, "North Korea's efforts to strengthen national military power are in response to the U.S. hostile policy toward North Korea, and the adoption of nuclear force policy legislation is a sovereign decision."

He added, "As already stated regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we will not engage with the South."