SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - North Korea has returned to the United Nations for the first time in seven years, suggesting renewed confidence after the powerful display of its leader standing alongside the heads of China and Russia earlier this month.
Taking the podium at the UN General Assembly on Monday, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong openly defied UN resolutions, reiterating that Pyongyang would "never give up nuclear weapons under any circumstances."
He argued the arsenal ensures a balance of power on the Korean Peninsula against what he described as U.S.-led "war rehearsals." Still, he left the door open to cooperation with countries that respect and treat the North "in a friendly way."
The UN return follows a flurry of recent diplomatic activity, starting with a symbolic photo-op at China's "Victory Day" parade in Beijing, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un mingled with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Three weeks later, North's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui returned to Beijing for separate meetings with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last Sunday and Premier Li Qiang the following day.
Choe stressed Pyongyang's "consistent position to strengthen and develop the two countries' friendship and cooperation to meet the needs of the present era," while praising China's growing global stature.
Pyongyang's newfound confidence partly owes to friendly overtures from U.S. President Donald Trump. During his summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung last month, Trump said he hoped to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the year ends.
Analysts speculate Pyongyang is seeking to elevate its international profile to strengthen its position should negotiations with Washington resume.
"North Korea's message is clear. It wants to be recognized as a nuclear state," said Oh Gyeong-seob, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. He added that Trump's remarks about Kim appear to have encouraged Pyongyang to take a "more active stance."
Oh also expressed concern over remarks from Seoul. South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday that North Korea has become one of only three countries capable of striking the U.S. mainland—an unusually blunt acknowledgement.
"The claim itself is problematic, and it risks signaling that Seoul is effectively recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. The statement cannot be appropriate for a unification minister," Oh warned.
reporter
Cheon Soram
cheons@ajupress.com
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