U.N. head vows to facilitate dialogue for nuke-free N. Korea

December 10, 2017

New York- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday showed his willingness to facilitate dialogue between North Korea and relevant countries, such as the United States, in a bid to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The United Nations strongly believes that "a nonnuclear Korean Peninsula is essential for the peace and stability of the region," Guterres said. "We want that to be achieved through meaningful dialogue, open dialogue, constructive dialogue."

"We will do everything possible to facilitate that dialogue" among relevant countries, he said in an interview with Jiji Press and other Japanese media organizations ahead of his visit to the Asian country from Wednesday.

Guterres said that Jeffrey Feltman, U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs, during his visit to North Korea this week, called on Pyongyang to fully implement all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and take steps to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Asked whether Feltman held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Guterres said, "As far as I know at the present moment, that meeting has not taken place." Jiji Press