YouSaid · the spoken record

Choe Su Hon,

lines on the record: 132
first: 1997-09-24
most recent: 2007-09-24
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will continue, on the basis of independence, peace and friendship — the fundamental ideals of its foreign policy — to contribute actively to international efforts for a just, equitable and new world order by further intensifying cooperation with all Member States.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The General Assembly should be empowered to review resolutions of the Security Council on such issues as sanctions and the use of force directly affecting international peace and security and to submit its relevant recommendations. Regarding Security Council reform, we believe that priority should be given to ensuring full representation of the non-aligned and other developing countries that constitute an overwhelming majority of the United Nations membership. Our people graciously celebrated the fifty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 9 September, thus demonstrating the dignity and the might of the Kim Il Sung nation, firmly united single-heartedly around the great leader General Secretary Kim Jong Il.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“An important task before Member States at present is to establish a just and equitable international order and relations, in keeping with the aspirations and desire of all humankind. 28 To that end, it is important, among others things, to ensure that the principle of respect for sovereignty and equality is fully observed in international relations. Unilateralism and high-handedness should be totally rejected and opposed, as they contravene the Charter and principles of international law. In order to establish just international relations, the functions and the role of the United Nations must be enhanced and democratized. Democratizing the United Nations means decisively enhancing the authority of the General Assembly and reforming the Security Council.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Reunions of separated families and relatives took place, and various economic exchanges are now under way. On 15 August, independence day, a splendid national meeting for peace and reunification was held in Pyongyang that demonstrated once again the aspirations and determination of all Korean nationals in the North, the South and overseas for reunification. The Government and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will achieve national reconciliation, unity and reunification and contribute to security in the region and the rest of the world by fully implementing the 15 June North-South Joint Declaration, upholding the great idea of the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Il.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Thanks to the ideas of national independence and great national unity of the great leader General Kim Jong Il, the inter-Korean summit meeting was held in Pyongyang for the first time since the national division and the North-South Joint Declaration was made public on 15 June 2000. That marked a turning point in accelerating national reunification through the concerted efforts of the entire Korean nation. Despite ups and downs in recent years, there are active efforts to realize independent and peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. This year alone, a series of North-South ministerial-level talks were held and a groundbreaking ceremony to re-link interrupted railways and roads took place.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Having reaffirmed the position of my Government, which I believe is the most reasonable and just in addressing the nuclear issue, I hope that the President and the United Nations Member States have a correct understanding of our position and actively cooperate for a fair solution of the nuclear issue and for peace on the Korean peninsula and in the region as a whole. The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains steadfast in its policy and determination to realize peace and the reunification of Korea and thus contribute to peace and security in the region and in the rest of the world.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Since it has been proven that the United States is only interested in turning the six-party talks into a ground for completely disarming and eliminating my country by all means, instead of co-existing peacefully with us, we have been compelled not to maintain any interest in or expectations for such talks. As clearly stated, we have never made any promises with regard to the next round of the six-party talks. All developments concerning the nuclear issue prove well that pressure can never be a means for settlement of the nuclear issue and multiparty talks can be fruitful only when there is commitment to the abandonment of the hostile policy towards my country. Our demand is modest and simple. We just want both sides to drop their guns simultaneously and co-exist peacefully.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In a word, the position of the United States is that it will discuss the steps that it will take only after we have taken every action. Under the present circumstances, in which my country and the United States are levelling guns at each other, asking the other party to put down their guns first does not make any sense. This demand can only be construed as having the ulterior motive of disarming and eliminating my country. The result of the six-party talks has convinced us once again that the United States is seeking to disarm us by means of pressure and that it is still pursuing the hostile policy of stifling our country.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Other States participating in the Beijing talks also demanded a package solution and simultaneous action, urging a peaceful settlement to the nuclear issue. However, the United States alone repeated its unilateral call for my country’s abandonment of nuclear weapons programme first, with no reference to the change of its hostile policy which is the key to the solution of the nuclear issue. The United States even behaved imprudently, asserting that a non-aggression treaty is neither appropriate nor necessary and that it is not interested in such a treaty. The United States went so far as to insist that if bilateral relations are to be normalized even after my country scraps its nuclear programme, a full range of other issues such as missiles, conventional weapons and human rights should be addressed.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“To achieve that goal, we proposed to take all necessary measures through a package deal and to work towards the implementation of these measures on a step-by-step basis, following the principle of simultaneous action. Our proposal contains a detailed account of the package deal and the order of simultaneous action for a comprehensive and fair solution of the nuclear issue, including abandonment of the hostile policy towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the conclusion of the non-aggression treaty between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, renunciation of the nuclear programme and normalization of bilateral relations. 27 Simultaneous action is a realistic way to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, and any opposition to it is tantamount to rejecting denuclearization.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The peace now maintained on the Korean peninsula is entirely thanks to the powerful deterrence to war, which has been built up by our policy of independence, the songun policy. Our deterrence policy is not intended to attack anyone, but to serve as a means of self-defence to safeguard our sovereignty in all intents and purposes. In order to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue, the hostile policy towards my country should be changed fundamentally. That is the key to the solution of the nuclear issue. At the six-party talks in Beijing in late August, my country set as a goal the abandonment by the United States of its hostile policy towards us in exchange for renunciation of our nuclear programme.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My country has been singled out as part of an axis of evil and the target of pre-emptive nuclear attack. That was then adopted as a policy and put into action. In particular, following the visit by the United States presidential envoy to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in October 2002, the United States reversed black and white, alleging that my country had admitted to have a secret nuclear weapons programme. It also proceeded to unilaterally halt the supply of heavy fuel oil from November 2002 in violation of the Agreed Framework, and eventually it nullified all the bilateral agreements. The United States even put pressure upon my country to give up its nuclear programme and accept nuclear inspection with the aim of disarming the country, while openly attempting to overthrow the Government by force.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The announcement of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — United States Joint Statement of 11 June 1993, the adoption of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — United States Agreed Framework on 21 October 1994 and the subsequent process of their implementation have clearly testified to our peace-loving stand and its justness. The Korean people as well as the entire world welcomed the historic inter-Korean summit meeting in June 2000 and its resultant adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. They also sincerely hoped that these developments would lead to peace and stability in the region. However, the welcome atmosphere and the expectations for peace and stability, raised for a while, suddenly disappeared, and one party has resumed acute confrontation.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“The nuclear issue is, in its essence, an outcome of the hostile policy pursued by the United States to isolate and stifle the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea politically, economically and militarily. It originated from this deep-rooted hostility, which denies our system and refuses to co-exist with my country. My country’s consistent position is to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiations. Denuclearizing the Korean peninsula is the ultimate goal, the initiative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the earnest aspiration of the entire Korean nation. Accordingly, at both tripartite and six-party talks on the nuclear issue, my country advanced proposals aimed at achieving the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“My delegation is of the view that the pressing common task before States Members of the United Nations is to reject unilateralism and build a new world in which all countries, large and small, coexist peacefully. I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the principled position and sincere efforts of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to ensure a fair solution to the nuclear issue between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, which is now the focus of attention of the international community. I believe that it will be a positive contribution to the work of the current General Assembly.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Unilateral military attacks are being openly perpetrated against sovereign States under the pretext of the war against terrorism and on the basis of suspicions that they possess weapons of mass destruction. The principles of respect for sovereignty and sovereign equality are being violated, and international relations plunged into increasingly severe confrontation and antagonism, because of neo- imperialist practices that are based on the supremacy of power. 26 As we are well aware, this situation is a product of unilateralism, which is compelling countries to be subservient to the high-handedness and unreasonable demands of the super-Power.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I would like at the outset, on behalf of the delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to congratulate Mr. Julian Hunte, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saint Lucia, on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. I would also like to express appreciation for the efforts made by the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, to strengthen the functions and role of the United Nations, as required under current circumstances. The political situation today is more unstable than ever. We are confronted by new challenges as we try to make this century one of peace and prosperity for humankind. Countries have been designated, on the basis of extreme national chauvinism and hostility, as part of an axis of evil and as targets of pre-emptive nuclear attacks.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Unless the present unfair international economic system is redressed, poverty cannot be eliminated, nor can the gap between the rich and the poor be removed, nor sustainable development for all be ensured. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, as ever, make all efforts to uphold and achieve the purposes and principles of the United Nations on the basis of the ideas of independence, peace and friendship.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“International issues, such as conflict resolution, disarmament, terrorism and sustainable development, should be discussed and decided with the full participation of all United Nations Members, in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It is also important that democracy and impartiality be ensured in all United Nations activities and the work of reforming the Security Council, in particular, is undertaken to make it true to its main purpose. The Security Council should be reformed in such a way as to properly reflect present reality, where almost all countries have become United Nations Members, and fully ensure impartiality and democracy. In order to achieve the purposes of the United Nations, fair international economic and trade relations should be established and the right to development respected.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Above all, the sovereignty and equality of all countries should be respected. The use of force, the application of coercive measures and, in particular, unilateral acts should not be allowed in international relations. To this end, the power of the United Nations General Assembly should be decisively enhanced. The General Assembly should be empowered to review the issues concerning international peace and security and to approve major decisions of the Security Council in this regard. At present, the General Assembly is not even properly carrying out its intrinsic power as stipulated in the United Nations Charter.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Radical changes have taken place in the international arena since the 11 September incident.' Attempts to expand the war against terrorism' without justifiable reasons continue and the policy of power supremacy has emerged, openly advocating a theory of pre-emptive nuclear attack beyond the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, thus further challenging world peace and security. Hunger, poverty and external debts have become worse, while the inequality in international economic and trade relations and the gap between the rich and the poor have widened further. All these actions and events in international relations entirely contravene the spirit of the United Nations Charter. My delegation considers that the most pressing task before United Nations Members today is to respect and uphold the spirit enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“These contacts serve as turning points in the development of relations 30 between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Russia, the normalization of relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Japan, and also serve as a great contribution to world peace, security and the creation of a new and just world structure. Our people will, in the future, firmly defend our socialist system and achieve peace and the reunification of the Korean peninsula under the outstanding army-based leadership of the respected General Kim Jong Il, thus fulfilling our mission for peace and security in the world.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Our great leader, General Kim Jong Il, leads our people wisely with his army-based policies aimed at defending the country, building a powerful nation and providing for a favourable environment for peace and reunification in Korea, thanks to his energetic and untiring external activities. The respected General Kim Jong Il had a meeting with President Putin in the Far East region of the Russian Federation in August this year, and is holding talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan in Pyongyang today, 17 September.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The United Nations should also do its due part for the peace and security of Korea. In this regard, I wish to remind you that immeasurable suffering and misfortune were imposed on the Korean peninsula under the name and flag of the United Nations. It is highly expected that the United Nations will soon seek to redress the abnormal circumstances under which its name has been misused for over 50 years. We take pride in contributing positively to peace and security on the Korean peninsula, the Northeast Asian region and the world in general, even under the constant threats and confrontations that have persisted for more than 50 years.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Furthermore, during the conversation between our Foreign Minister and United States Secretary of State at the 9th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in July, we again welcomed the United States willingness to send its special envoy to Pyongyang. The point is that trustful dialogue can be resumed only when the United States refrains from its hostile policy against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and maintains a position of equality with us. If the United States intends to have a substantial dialogue with us on the principle of sovereign equality, we will respond accordingly. This will facilitate confidence-building between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States and open up the prospect for hammering out a fair solution to the pending issues.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It is entirely as a result of the consistent peace-loving policy and efforts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that peace is maintained on the Korean peninsula. Our position on relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States is ever principled and consistent. If the United States respects our system and sovereignty and takes an attitude of goodwill towards us, we can develop relations with the United States based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea considers that it is most reasonable to solve pending issues between itself and the United States through dialogue and negotiations. We had therefore already agreed to the United States suggestion that it send a special envoy with a view to presenting its position on the resumption of dialogue.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In order to ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula and realize reunification, the hostile policy of the United States against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should be terminated. The United States defines the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as its prime enemy' that poses a threat' to it. It also designates us as the axis of evil' and target of a pre-emptive nuclear strike' on the pretext of anti-terrorism,' thus further aggravating the situation. It is quite unreasonable that the United States antagonizes and threatens us with the use of force for the sole reason that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea firmly adheres to an independent policy and holds different values and ideas. This also contravenes the United Nations Charter and the norms of international relations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Recourse to foreign forces and complicit action with them against fellow countrymen are inevitably destined to lead to mistrust and confrontation in inter-Korean relations. We are firmly convinced that we can resolve all problems in the interests of the Korean nation by transcending the differences in ideologies and systems existing between the North and the South, if the North and the South sit together in the spirit of national independence and the love of country and people. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, in the future, make every effort to achieve independent reunification through a federation system that unites the strength of the entire Korean nation in the spirit of the North-South Joint Declaration.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“If the reunification of the country is to be achieved, the North and the South should, above all, reject foreign interference, which is a main obstacle to reunification, and should join efforts on the basis of ideas of national independence and great national unity. The modern history of Korea serves as a clear illustration of the high price paid and the great sacrifices made in succumbing to foreign intervention and relying on outside forces. The division of Korea was imposed by outside forces after the Second World War. It was neither the will nor a requirement of the Korean people. It is none other than those same foreign 29 forces that continue to shadow inter-Korean relations at every stage of their favourable development and that undermine the interests of the Korean nation.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Dialogue and contacts in other fields are under way, and a national reunification meeting of compatriots from the North, the South and overseas was held successfully on the occasion of the 15 August Korean restoration day. The North and the South have jointly introduced an agenda item entitled Peace, security and reunification on the Korean Peninsula' at the current session of the General Assembly and have agreed to draw up and submit a draft resolution under that item. Governments and peoples of many countries are supporting and welcoming the emerging dÈtente on the Korean peninsula as well as the trend towards reconciliation and cooperation between the North and the South. The history of division for more than 50 years is a serious lesson for all Korean people.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“They discussed measures for cooperation, exchanges and relaxation of tension in Korea; thus the spirit of reunification on the Korean peninsula gained momentum. However, the positive development of inter- Korean relations was frustrated by the interference of external forces, and the North-South Joint Declaration thus faced major obstacles. It is fortunate indeed that inter-Korean relations have now been put back on track through the dialogue and contacts on implementing the Joint Declaration, held in recent months at the initiative of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The ministerial-level talks were resumed.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It is thanks to the ideas of national independence and national unity of the respected General Kim Jong Il that the historic inter-Korean summit meeting took place in Pyongyang in June 2000 and that the North- South Joint Declaration was adopted; this served as a turning point in the efforts of the Korean people for the country's reunification. The 15 June 2000 North-South Joint Declaration is a declaration of national independence and peaceful reunification calling for opposing foreign interference and achieving reunification by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. After the publication of the North-South Joint Declaration, the North and the South held talks and engaged in contacts in various fields, seeking ways and means to achieve reconciliation and unity.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“He proposed achieving reunification by means of a federation system where different ideas and systems would continue to exist in the North and the South. He devoted all his efforts to national reunification up until the moment he died. The respected General Kim Jong Il has defined three main charters for national reunification as: the three principles of national reunification; the 10-Point Programme for the Great Unity of the Whole Nation; and the proposal on founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo put forward by the fatherly leader. These provide a basis for the country's reunification.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As the Korean people undergo immeasurable pain and misfortune due to the division of the country and the nation, the world realizes that, as long as the homogeneous Korean nation remains artificially divided, Korea will never be peaceful, nor will peace and security be possible there. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea made reunification the supreme national task from the first day of the division, and has since adhered to its stand with respect to achieving reunification independently, through dialogue and negotiation between the North and South of Korea. The fatherly leader of our people, President Kim Il Sung, long ago set forth the principles and programmes for reunifying the country independently through peaceful national unity.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. It is our expectation that your able stewardship will enable 28 the work of this session to result in tangible progress. I also appreciate the efforts of Secretary-General Kofi Annan towards international peace and sustainable development. I am going to contribute to the work of the General Assembly by presenting a perspective on the situation of the Korean peninsula, which remains a major concern in terms of world peace and security. More than 50 years have passed since the division of Korea by outside forces.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an independent peace-loving State and its Government consistently adheres to the fundamental ideal of independence, peace and friendship in its foreign policy. The Government of our Republic will develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all countries respecting its sovereignty and continue to make every effort to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula and to safeguard peace and security in North-East Asia, in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. My delegation will contribute to the best of its ability to the successful deliberation of all items on the agenda of the current session.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea appreciates the efforts of the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America to develop regional and subregional cooperation in the spirit of collective selfreliance. We also support Syria and other Arab countries 33 in their just struggle to seek a fair and comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem and appreciate the efforts of the countries of Africa to promote peace, security and development there. I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Governments, organizations and individuals of various countries, as well as the United Nations and governmental and non-governmental international organizations, for their humanitarian assistance with the damage caused by several consecutive years of natural disaster in my country.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Economic sanctions run counter to the ideal of cooperation, are anachronistic, and only incite confrontation among nations. Countries that see economic sanctions as an instrument of power and authority should pay due attention to the fact that many people, at home and abroad, are increasingly sceptical about and opposed to them. Globalization has caused the monetary crisis in Asia, increasing the poverty and marginalization of the developing countries. The United Nations should find ways to meet this new challenge. It should play its rightful role in strongly promoting the spirit of collective self-reliance of the developing countries and urging the implementation of official development assistance by the developed countries.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In today’s international relations, the human rights issue has became synonymous with intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. Attempts to impose the values of one nation upon others are rampant. Consequently, the rights of people to choose and the sovereign rights of nations are being infringed. The United Nations should reject the politicization of human rights and never tolerate double standards in the implementation of human rights instruments. The twenty-first century should be devoted to development and cooperation. Economic development and the sustained growth of the developing countries should become a main theme in international economic relations. To this end, the current inequitable international economic relations need to be redressed and the external debt issue resolved.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“When the international community called for a ban on all nuclear explosive tests, the nuclearweapon States opted for subcritical tests. The proliferation of nuclear weapons cannot be prevented so long as the nuclear-weapon States pursue a monopoly of nuclear weapons. The policy of the nuclearweapon States to provide a nuclear umbrella and their double standards in dealing with nuclear issues are among the obstacles to making nuclear disarmament a reality. The United Nations should decisively strengthen its role in the field of disarmament. In this regard, we believe that there is a growing need to convene a fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament. The issue of human rights needs to be dealt with objectively and impartially within the framework of the United Nations.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Its working methods must be improved for the sake of transparency. Priority should be given to the developing countries in the expansion of the Council’s permanent membership. Any State that has failed to atone for its past is not eligible for permanent membership. As for relations between the General Assembly and the Security Council, the authority of the General Assembly should be enhanced decisively. Recent events in southern Asia, witnessed by the entire world, remind us all that disarmament, especially nuclear disarmament, should remain a priority on the agenda of the United Nations. Although several years have elapsed since the end of the cold war, nuclear stockpiles around the world have become more sophisticated rather than being reduced.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“It can either be dictated to by big countries or become the Organization of a new era in which the purposes and principles of its Charter are safeguarded and fully realized. The reform of the United Nations should correctly reflect this reality. At present, the most undemocratic organ in the United Nations system is the Security Council. The current composition of the Council does not represent the general United Nations membership and the veto power of its permanent members often subverts the wishes of the majority of member States. If the United Nations is to be democratized, the Security Council should be reformed. To this end, the expansion of the non-permanent category should be given precedence, thus correcting, to a certain extent, the current imbalance in the Council’s composition.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“32 With just one year to go before the twenty-first century, the United Nations is faced with the task of building a new world free from all forms of domination and subordination. New challenges in safeguarding world peace and security, achieving the denuclearization of the world and ensuring social progress and economic development require the United Nations to find appropriate new measures. Almost all the recent attempts by a few big countries, as opposed to the United Nations membership as a whole, to deal with international matters have met with failure. This proves that the era of power politics and big-Power arbitrary action ended with the cold war. The United Nations is now at a crossroads.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Japan must discharge its responsibility for the Korean question by sincerely apologizing and providing compensation for its enormous crimes against our people, instead of attempting to declare war against us by drawing up so-called “emergency legislation”, aimed at keeping pace militarily with the United States, the belligerent party with us. Recently, too, the Japanese authorities behaved unreasonably when they publicly questioned our satellite launch and acted rashly in taking the issue to the Security Council, insisting that it respond to our launch. This was a flagrant mockery of the international community. If our satellite launch is a serious security concern, Japan’s satellite launches should be top priority for the Security Council’s consideration.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The States Members of the United Nations should no longer claim to be unaware that the name and flag of the United Nations continue to be abused to conceal these belligerent relations. We are convinced that the most appropriate way of maintaining peace on the Korean peninsula is to dissolve the United Nations command in South Korea and to conclude a peace agreement between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States. This is our unchanging position. Japan should not hinder the cause of our reunification by aggravating the tense situation on the Korean peninsula.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“In order for the Korean people to resolve the questions of national unity and reunification by themselves, concerned countries, including the United States and Japan, should refrain from hindering the efforts of the Korean people. The United States Army is the main military entity in South Korea and has long been in belligerent relations with us. This is a quite abnormal phenomenon in today’s post-cold-war international relations and the product of anachronistic thinking. It is the United States military entity and no other that constitutes the major obstacle in the way of the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea. In this forum, we once again strongly urge the United States to withdraw its forces from South Korea and to end its belligerent relations with us.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The North-South dialogue should be conducted on the basis of the principles of placing the common interests of the nation above all, removing distrust and confrontation between the North and the South and subordinating everything to the cause of national reunification. No one should be allowed to use dialogue for dishonest political purposes or to perpetuate the division of the country. If the South Korean authorities show their sincere desire for reunification by taking practical actions — such as abolishing the National Security Law and the like — we will meet with them at any time and hold dialogues and consultations to discuss the common destiny of the nation and work together for national reunification.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The main elements of the five-point policy are the principle of national independence; a change in policy by the South Korean authorities towards reconciliation and alliance with the North; dialogue for the unity and reunification of the whole nation; the promotion of coexistence, co-prosperity and public interests between the North and the South; and solidarity and coalition between the North, South and the international community. The Government of our Republic will spare no effort to achieve these points. We have been consistently in favour of dialogue for reunification and to improve relations between the North and South of Korea.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Independence, peaceful reunification and great national unity are the three principles of national reunification agreed upon between the North and the South. These principles were also welcomed and supported by the United Nations. The Government of our Republic consistently maintains that Korea should be reunified by means of confederacy on the basis of the three principles of reunification. In April this year, our Great Leader, Comrade Kim Jong Il, advanced the five-point policy for the great unity of the entire nation as part of his continued efforts for national reunification.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Due to the fact that Korea has not yet been reunified, military confrontation and tensions grow increasingly aggravated between the United States, Japan and South Korea, on the one hand, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the other. As a result of the present military manoeuvres against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on and around the Korean peninsula, there is a growing danger that either the twentieth century may close or the twenty-first century may open with another Korean war. This danger should be removed by all possible means. In order to remove the danger of war and ensure a durable peace on the Korean peninsula, the reunification of the country should be achieved without fail.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)