U.N. praises inter-Korean summit

The United Nations Millennium Summit cochairmen announced on September 7 a joint statement, praising the June 15 inter-Korean summit and its follow-up measures.

The statement issued by two millennium cochairmen was adopted at the second plenary session held on Thursday morning. In the statement, the cochairmen said that the South-North Korean summit and their June 15 joint declaration were significant steps toward peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as well as toward Korean reunification.

They expressed hope that the two Koreas would continue to develop the process of dialogue so as to contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.

The joint statement drew global attention, as it was the first declaration for the U.N. to welcome the progress in inter-Korean relations at the largest gathering of world leaders in history. It singled out the Korean question among many, varied regional issues.

The U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to adopt a resolution, based on the cochairmen`s statement, supporting the development of inter-Korean relations at the end of this year`s session on September 11.

The U.N. adoption of the international statement on Korea marked the second time since the Group of Eight Summit adopted a resolution welcoming the June 15 inter-Korean Summit Joint Declaration.