UN: “No Guarantee of North Korean Safety Means Continuous Nuclear Development”

The Special Representative of the United Nation’s Secretary General (SRSG), Morris Strong, disclosed on May 22 that North Korea has declared they will continue to develop nuclear weapons unless the United States guarantees a creditable means of securing a nonaggression pact toward North Korea.

At a press conference held at the airport in Beijing, Strong, who visited North Korea on May 18 and returned on this day, stated that “North Korea considers the most reliable guarantee against danger from the United States to be nuclear weapons. They said that they would develop nuclear weapons until a creditable guarantee of safety comes up.”

In order to discuss measures for the Six-Party talks and economic support, Strong visited North Korea and met with national administration officials, military leaders, and North Korean Foreign Minister Back Nam-soon, but was not granted an interview with Kim Jong-il, Strong said.

Jung-Ahn Kim credo@donga.com