By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 17 – When North Korea's mission to the UN held a press conference on April 17, its stated topic was the upcoming April 28 UN Security Council session featuring US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Inner City Press asked North Korea's Deputy Permanent Representative Kim In Ryong about US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to the DMZ, and if there has been any response to the Mission's letter to the UN they cited in their last press conference on March 13. No, nothing (fast InnerCityPro.com transcript of rest of press conference below). Minutes later Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric agian about the letter, he refused to answer, typically. Here's an InnerCityPro.com transcription of the rest of the DPRK press conference: "I would like to clarify the viewpoint of my government about the briefing of the Security Council, which is usurped by the United States using its presidency of the Security Council. The US ambassador, during her remarks about the work of the SC, has announced that the Security Council would hold a briefing under the pretext of non-proliferation of the DPRK on the 28th of this month. It will be presided over by the US secretary of state.I categorically reject the briefing as another abuse of authority and violation of DPRK sovereignty of the Security Council. As everyone knows, now the US perpetrates military attacks on sovereign states. The recent US attack on Syria. The US is disturbing peace and security and insisting on gangster-like logic. The US introduced in South Korea, the world’s biggest hotspot, a huge nuclear asset, pushing the situation to the brink of war. Nuclear war may break out at any minute on the peninsula, and pose a serious threat to peace and security. The situation on the Korean peninsula is often in doubt. The United Nations, and the Security Council, is now covering up for the high-handedness of the US. Ignorance of justice and international law. The DPRK, in accordance with article 34 35 of the UN charter, made the request for an emergency meeting of the Security Council about the military exercises on the Korean peninsula. While disregarding our request for an emergency meeting of the exercises, which is a root cause for aggravating tensions, this same Security Council is planning to convene a meeting on the nuclear behavior of the DPRK. This is a double standard, injustice.
The US takes issue with the right to defensive measures by the DPRK, by adopting sanctions resolutions. The UNSC brands legitimate exercise of sovereignty as illegal, and calls measures for self-defense provocations, while some countries are allowed to conduct tests undeterred. The US and UN Security Council have kept mum about their tests, while cooking up brigandish allegations about North Korea.
It is very clear the briefing planned by the US, its purpose is nothing but to justify the aggressive war climate against the DPRK.
US has used its double standards against countries who aspire to independence, with a different social system. This is utter disregard for the international system in pursuit of hegemony. The nuclear weapon states are improving their forces in quality and quantity. It is inevitable for the DPRK to have access to a nuclear deterrent, for self-defense, as it is always exposed to the direct nuclear threat of the US.
The road we have chosen for self-defense is the road for our existence and safeguarding our future. They reflect the determination of the people and army of the DPRK. The DPRK has never recognized the unreasonable resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The US reckless move to invade the DPRK have reached a serious stage.
If the US dares opt for military options, the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the Americans. DPRK was entirely just when it increased its military capability of self-defense. The Trump administration is trying to do something of the DPRK by deploying strike means, trumpeting about peace by strength. But the DPRK remains unfazed. We will take tough counter action against provocateurs. We will hold the US accountable for the catastrophic results of its actions. The schemes to bring down the socialist DPRK will result in increased military muscle. I hope the journalists present here are paying attention to the nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula with a correct understanding on its root causes.
Q and A:Are you planning anything on April 28? And, what kind of counter-actions are you planning? Nuclear test? Launch?
[Inner City Press asked questions about Mike Pence’s visit to South Korea and the DMZ and DPRK's letter to the UN; others asked of plans for a nuclear test; China's position on DPRK; negotiations on nuclear disarmament]
I’ll give you the answers in a package.The Trump administration policy on DPRK, well, the DPRK policy shaped by the Trump administration is the first to put intense pressure and sanctions, and keep tactical nuclear weapons deployed in South Korea, and launch military action aimed at beheading the leadership of DPRK. The Trump administration has added the threat of blackmail against DPRK [by launching the attack on Syria]. As we already clarified, all the brigandish provocations of the US, in the political and military and economic forms, will be met with the toughest counter-action of the army and people of the DPRK.
The US has to come to its senses. The army and people of DPRK will counter those who encroach on the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK with Korean-style tough counter-actions.
As far as convening the briefing of the UNSC, we have already rejected the program itself. This is an abuse of the SC mandate. The object of this meeting is a clear impurity.
About the test-fire: Our missile test is part of the normal course which we go through. It is part of the normal process to building up self-defense capability, in order to defend our right to existence and safeguard peace on the peninsula.
As far as another nuclear test, it was already known who to the public. It is something that our headquarters decided at the place where our headquarters deem necessary, it will take place.
We proposed to the UN secretariat to hold a meeting to clarify the legality of the UNSC. We have no response. As far as the journalists, the Chinese proposal – the dual power approach – this is the first phase. A look at the history of DPRK and US relations, a rolling back of the US hostility towards the DPRK is the precursor to solve the problems in the Korean peninsula. Since our nuclear position is the product of the US hostile policy, it’s not an issue to be taken on the negotiating table. The formula is not new. We oppose the discussion mixing the two issues. As far as the Chinese proposal on halting military exercises, the US refused the Chinese proposal on the same day as soon as China set it forth. In 2015 DPRK made a proposal about crucial steps for the US to create a peaceful environment."
The US takes issue with the right to defensive measures by the DPRK, by adopting sanctions resolutions. The UNSC brands legitimate exercise of sovereignty as illegal, and calls measures for self-defense provocations, while some countries are allowed to conduct tests undeterred. The US and UN Security Council have kept mum about their tests, while cooking up brigandish allegations about North Korea.
It is very clear the briefing planned by the US, its purpose is nothing but to justify the aggressive war climate against the DPRK.
US has used its double standards against countries who aspire to independence, with a different social system. This is utter disregard for the international system in pursuit of hegemony. The nuclear weapon states are improving their forces in quality and quantity. It is inevitable for the DPRK to have access to a nuclear deterrent, for self-defense, as it is always exposed to the direct nuclear threat of the US.
The road we have chosen for self-defense is the road for our existence and safeguarding our future. They reflect the determination of the people and army of the DPRK. The DPRK has never recognized the unreasonable resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The US reckless move to invade the DPRK have reached a serious stage.
If the US dares opt for military options, the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the Americans. DPRK was entirely just when it increased its military capability of self-defense. The Trump administration is trying to do something of the DPRK by deploying strike means, trumpeting about peace by strength. But the DPRK remains unfazed. We will take tough counter action against provocateurs. We will hold the US accountable for the catastrophic results of its actions. The schemes to bring down the socialist DPRK will result in increased military muscle. I hope the journalists present here are paying attention to the nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula with a correct understanding on its root causes.
Q and A:Are you planning anything on April 28? And, what kind of counter-actions are you planning? Nuclear test? Launch?
[Inner City Press asked questions about Mike Pence’s visit to South Korea and the DMZ and DPRK's letter to the UN; others asked of plans for a nuclear test; China's position on DPRK; negotiations on nuclear disarmament]
I’ll give you the answers in a package.The Trump administration policy on DPRK, well, the DPRK policy shaped by the Trump administration is the first to put intense pressure and sanctions, and keep tactical nuclear weapons deployed in South Korea, and launch military action aimed at beheading the leadership of DPRK. The Trump administration has added the threat of blackmail against DPRK [by launching the attack on Syria]. As we already clarified, all the brigandish provocations of the US, in the political and military and economic forms, will be met with the toughest counter-action of the army and people of the DPRK.
The US has to come to its senses. The army and people of DPRK will counter those who encroach on the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK with Korean-style tough counter-actions.
As far as convening the briefing of the UNSC, we have already rejected the program itself. This is an abuse of the SC mandate. The object of this meeting is a clear impurity.
About the test-fire: Our missile test is part of the normal course which we go through. It is part of the normal process to building up self-defense capability, in order to defend our right to existence and safeguard peace on the peninsula.
As far as another nuclear test, it was already known who to the public. It is something that our headquarters decided at the place where our headquarters deem necessary, it will take place.
We proposed to the UN secretariat to hold a meeting to clarify the legality of the UNSC. We have no response. As far as the journalists, the Chinese proposal – the dual power approach – this is the first phase. A look at the history of DPRK and US relations, a rolling back of the US hostility towards the DPRK is the precursor to solve the problems in the Korean peninsula. Since our nuclear position is the product of the US hostile policy, it’s not an issue to be taken on the negotiating table. The formula is not new. We oppose the discussion mixing the two issues. As far as the Chinese proposal on halting military exercises, the US refused the Chinese proposal on the same day as soon as China set it forth. In 2015 DPRK made a proposal about crucial steps for the US to create a peaceful environment."
With tension mounting around North Korea, the nation's founder's 105th birthday passed with highly synchronized parade in Pyongyang, amid news Kim Jong Un wants at least 600,000 people to evacuate the city. USS Carl Vinson is in Korean waters. Then on Sunday morning there came news of a missile launch failure, from Sinpo. But in testing such weapons, failures are necessary. Nothing yet from the UN; Secretary General Antonio Guterres has nothing on his public schedule on Monday, April 17 either. Froms the US: "The President and his military team are aware of North Korea's most recent unsuccessful missile launch. The President has no further comment." We'll have more on this. Back on March 13 when North Korea held a press conference at the UN, they said they've asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to organize an international forum of legal experts about what they say is the illegality of UN Security Council sanctions on them, but that Guterres has not replied.
Minutes later Inner City Press asked Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric, a holdover from the UN's Ban Ki-moon era, about DPRK's request to Guterres. Dujarric said he wasn't aware of it but would check. Inner City Press specifically asked to be informed one way or another.
