S Korean Prez seeks international support for denuclearisation of North Korea

NEW YORK: South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called for the support of the world community to help North Korea to advance toward denuclearisation and to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Addressing the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Moon said, "North Korea has come out of its long isolation on its own to stand before the world again. Now, it is time for the international community to respond to North Korea's new choice and efforts."

He also recalled the wave of reconciliation between the two Koreas, resulting in Pyongyang's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Games and holding three inter-Korean summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

President Moon reiterated that Kim is committed to achieving denuclearisation and has dismantled its nuclear testing site in the last few months in the presence of international observers.

The South Korean President further said that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim was historic and unprecedented, adding that the two leaders agreed to jointly work towards North Korea's denuclearisation and resolving their differences through talks.

"This is, however, just the beginning. I would like to ask for continued support and cooperation from the member states on our journey towards complete denuclearisation and permanent peace. The Republic of Korea will spare no effort to encourage North Korea's participation in the international community while adhering to the resolutions adopted by the United Nations," President Moon added.

President Moon also apprised Trump and other world leaders of the outcome of the recent inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang earlier this month.

Apart from President, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also urged the international community to support the denuclearisation effort of North Korea.

At the Security Council foreign ministers meeting on North Korea which was held on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session, Kang discussed the progress in the efforts of getting rid the communist nation of the nuclear weapons, reported News agency.

Chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the meeting came amid talk of a second US-North Korea summit.

The ministry in a press release said that Kang "requested the international community's support for more concrete accomplishments through US-North Korea negotiations down the road."