North Korea tells U.N. that now it has 'effective war deterrent' it will focus on economy

[webfact]

North Korea tells U.N. that now it has 'effective war deterrent' it will focus on economy

By Michelle Nichols and David Brunnstrom

 

FILE PHOTO: North Korean ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song speaks during a news conference in New York, U.S., October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - North Korea has a "reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defence" and will now focus on developing its economy, North Korea's U.N. Ambassador Kim Song said on Tuesday, though he acknowledged that international sanctions were a hindrance.

 

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Kim also said the "anti-epidemic situation in our country is now under safe and stable control" as a result of measures taken to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases, though some U.S. officials have cast doubt on that claim.

 

Already weighed down by tough international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Pyongyang is also facing significant economic damage from strict border closures and other measures aimed at preventing a coronavirus outbreak and struggling to cope with damage from recent storms and flooding.

 

"Based on its reliable guarantee for safeguarding the security of the state and people, the DPRK is now directing all its efforts to economic construction," said Kim, using his country's formal name - Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

 

"It is a matter of fact that we badly need an external environment favourable for economic construction," he said. "But, we cannot sell off our dignity just in a hope for brilliant transformation – the dignity which we have defended as valuable as our own life. This is our steadfast position."

 

He said North Korea was still being threatened by military hardware like stealth fighters being used on the Korean Peninsula and "nuclear strike means of all kinds are directly aimed at the DPRK."

 

"Genuine peace can only be safeguarded when one possesses the absolute strength to prevent war itself," Kim said. "As we have obtained the reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defence by tightening our belts, peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region are now firmly defended."

 

Independent U.N. sanctions monitors reported to the U.N. Security Council in August that North Korea was pressing on with its nuclear weapons program and several countries believe it has "probably developed miniaturized nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles."

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump have met three times since 2018, but failed to make progress on U.S. calls for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and North Korea's demands for an end to sanctions.

 

North Korea's ruling party plans a congress in January to decide a new five-year plan, state media reported last month, after a party meeting noted serious delays in improving the national economy and living standards.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Leslie Adler and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Tug]

Thanks trump for allowing the n Koreans the acceptance into the world of nuclear powers and squandering all efforts to prevent it before your administration (sarcasm alert) 

[klauskunkel]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

"It is a matter of fact that we badly need an external environment favourable for economic construction," he said. "But, we cannot sell off our dignity just in a hope for brilliant transformation – the dignity which we have defended as valuable as our own life. This is our steadfast position."

Yup, he looks dignified. He also looks well-fed.

[DrTuner]

So they ran out of money. Did CCP lock down the N.Korea - China border? Left their buddies to hang dry?

Edited September 30, 2020 by DrTuner

[Sergeant]

No one is being a threat to North Korean! They can do what they like till a threat for the world not being safe. Such a small country, why would any one wish to take over with so many problems. Let China try its Virus on its people in North Korean? North Korean does not want any tourist? How many Chinese want to move to North Korean?

Good luck

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.