"US and Security Council Are Watching"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui recently expressed strong regret toward UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, who condemned North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch. She once again blamed the military tensions on the Korean Peninsula on South Korea and the United States, while expressing dissatisfaction with the upcoming open meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled for the 21st (local time).
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 21st, Foreign Minister Choe stated in a communiqu?, "I strongly regret that the UN Secretary-General has forgotten his inherent mission to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as well as fairness, objectivity, and equity in all matters, and is taking a pathetic and disgraceful attitude."
Foreign Minister Choe claimed, "Secretary-General Guterres once again labeled our legitimate and just exercise of self-defense rights in response to the serious military threats from the United States on the 18th as a 'provocation,'" adding, "Recently, I often find myself wondering whether the UN Secretary-General is a member of the White House or the State Department."
She continued, "We have recently warned that the UN Secretary-General should examine the Korean Peninsula issue based on fairness and objectivity," arguing that military tensions are escalating due to the South Korea-US joint military exercises and the deployment of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula.
Furthermore, she emphasized, "We have clearly stated that, due to the dangerous military cooperation movements against North Korea by the United States and its followers, we were inevitably compelled to take essential actions for our self-defense amid the concerning security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the region. We sent a clear signal that the United States should not act rashly if it does not want disastrous consequences."
Additionally, Foreign Minister Choe said, "Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel astonished and appalled that the UN Secretary-General is placing the blame for provocation on us, rather than on the United States, which initiated the provocation," and "The fact that the UN Secretary-General tolerated the followers of the United States, the 'monster,' dragging our inviolable sovereign exercise to the UN Security Council to pressure us undeniably proves that the UN Secretary-General is a puppet of the United States," she repeatedly criticized.
She further stated, "I remind that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is observing the movements of the United States and the UN Security Council with a clear response direction."
Earlier, Secretary-General Guterres, in a statement on the 18th, "strongly condemned" North Korea's ICBM launch and "once again urged North Korea to immediately cease further provocative acts." Subsequently, the UN Security Council will hold an open meeting on the morning of the 21st (local time) to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's ICBM provocation. South Korea is also expected to participate in this meeting as a concerned party.
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