Aug. 10 (UPI) — South Korea urged North Korea to “immediately” stop issuing threats a day after North Korea again said it might launch a missile strike near the U.S. territory of Guam.
Seoul foreign ministry spokesman Cho Joon-hyuk said Thursday North Korea’s defiance would ultimately work against the regime, South Korean news service News 1 reported.
“Through its participation in this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum, North Korea realized the position that it is in, in the international community, and at the same time clearly confirmed continuing with more provocations will only place it in a more difficult situation,” Cho said.
The South Korean official said member states of ARF reaffirmed it shared the common goal of the international communities to “achieve a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea in a peaceful manner.”
“U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for the peaceful denuclearization of North Korea — a common goal of the international community — and stressed the importance of strengthening pressure on North Korea in diplomatic, economic terms,” the South Korean spokesman said. “In this regard, North Korea’s recently issued statements of threats are in direct opposition to the international community’s consensus, and must stop immediately.”
“North Korea must make the right choice now and go for denuclearization,” Cho added, suggesting the door for dialogue remains open between the two countries.
The ARF statement expressed “grave concern” over North Korea missile tests, including the tests of what analysts have said are intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The forum members also urged North Korea to comply with obligations stated in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
