What is the international community saying about the results of the inter-Korean dialogue?
(Baonghean.vn) - On January 9th, many countries welcomed the results of the inter-Korean dialogue, in which North Korea agreed to participate in the Olympic Games in South Korea.
1. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
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| UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the agreement between the two sides on holding military dialogues, calling it an important opportunity to reduce the risks of miscalculation. |
2. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert
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| In a statement, the US State Department also considered this a positive development. The US is working with South Korea to ensure that North Korea's participation in the Olympics does not violate UN sanctions resolutions. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert also stated that the US is interested in engaging in future dialogues. However, the current challenge is that these dialogues must focus on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. |
3. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia
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| Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia emphasized: “I welcome the start of dialogue between the parties. This is what the international community wants in order to resolve any issue. First, they must engage in dialogue. However, this is only a unilateral action during the Olympic Games. I hope there will be further real progress on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.” |
4. Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan
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| While welcoming North Korea's participation in the Olympics, Japan reacted cautiously, calling for continued pressure on North Korea. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated that the cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear program would not change. |
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| Amidst the first high-level talks between North Korea and South Korea in over two years on January 9th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang stated that China supports the positive steps taken by Seoul and Pyongyang to improve bilateral relations and hopes the international community will assist both Koreas. |
6. Mr. Ri Son-gwon, head of the North Korean delegation.
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| Ri Son-gwon affirmed: “North Korea has decided to send a large delegation to participate in the Winter Olympics, and South Korea has agreed to provide necessary support. Regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons – including atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, and intercontinental ballistic missiles – these are aimed only at the United States, not at our brotherly nations.” – Ri Son-gwon, head of the North Korean delegation at the meeting with South Korea, stated. |
7. Mr. Chung Hae Sung, Vice Minister of Unification of South Korea
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| South Korea has proposed several measures to ease tensions between the two Koreas, one of which is lifting some sanctions against North Korea. However, South Korean officials say this is only the beginning. "Being able to start means we're halfway there. But the road ahead is long, and we can't expect everything to be fine after just one discussion," Chung Hae Sung, South Korea's vice minister of unification, told Reuters. |
