New york: South Korea's top envoy to the U.N. reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to "peaceful coexistence" on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization during a U.N. Security Council meeting. Ambassador Cha Ji-hoon outlined the nation's strategies to reduce military tensions and build trust with North Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ambassador Cha emphasized South Korea's consistent pursuit of a peaceful Korean Peninsula since the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung administration. He stressed reconciliation and cooperation rather than hostility and confrontation. The ambassador reiterated South Korea's respect for the DPRK system, stating that the country does not seek hostility or unification by absorption. Instead, proactive steps have been taken to reduce tensions and build trust with North Korea.

Ambassador Cha highlighted South Korea's firm commitment to denuclearization, referencing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He noted that the international community, during the NPT review conference, reaffirmed that the DPRK cannot be recognized as a nuclear weapons state. The ambassador called on the permanent members of the Security Council to uphold their responsibilities under the NPT concerning the DPRK nuclear issue.

He warned that abandoning denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula could negatively impact regional and global nonproliferation efforts. Ambassador Cha also detailed South Korea's pragmatic and phased approach to addressing North Korea's nuclear issue, recognizing current realities. The approach involves step-by-step progress toward denuclearization, starting with halting DPRK nuclear and missile programs through dialogue and negotiation, followed by reduction and eventual dismantlement.

North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song criticized the UNSC meeting, arguing that the disbanded U.N. expert panel was terminated by "the fair judgement of history" and labeled it a "politically-motivated conspiracy group."