North Korea Says It Needs Trust in US Before Denuclearization

United Nations: North Korea on Saturday demanded the United States take steps to secure Pyongyang’s trust before its denuclearization. “Without any trust in the US there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances, there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first,” North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the UN General Assembly, Xinhua reported. “DPRK government’s commitment to denuclearization is solid and firm. However, it is only possible if the US secures our sufficient trust toward the US”

The key to consolidating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is to thoroughly implement the joint statement adopted at the historic summit between North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, said Ri. The joint statement contains all principled issues regarding eventual solutions of the issues on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

The primary task for effectively implementing the joint statement should be bringing down the barrier of mistrust between the two countries, said Ri. Out of the desire and resolute determination to successfully implement the joint statement, North Korea government gives particular attention to trust-building and is pouring primary efforts to this, he said. Even before the summit, North Korea took significant good-will measures such as stopping nuclear and ballistic missile tests and dismantling a nuclear test site, said Ri. “The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust.” (IANS)