At UN North Korea Deputy An Myong Hun on Land Mine :False Logic" & UN Security Council Meeting Request, Ban Kimoon Contrast

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 21 -- North Korea has asked for an "urgent" UN Security Council meeting again about the Ulji Freedom Guardian military exercise including the US. Text below. This comes after South Korea resumed propaganda broadcasts from huge speakers, and North Korea fired at them.

  At 4 pm on August 21, North Korean Deputy Permanent Representative An Myong Hun held a press conference at the UN. Inner City Press is putting his opening statement online, here, full text below. 

  After that, Inner City Press asked An Myong Hun of the US suspending and then resuming the military exercise, and if there's been any response from the Security Council.Periscope video here; Inner City Press including for theFree UN Coalition for Access was the first question.

  Some tried to make Inner City Press ceded the first question, for which it was called, to the old UN Correspondents Association. Since that UNCA has become, in effect, the UN's Censorship Alliance, Inner City Press declined. 

  Notably, and as something FUNCA agrees with, UNCA protested An Myong Hun not answering questions before leaving. But UNCA says nothing when Secretary General Ban Ki-moon does just this. (FUNCA, by contrasts, protests.)

 In terms of a Security Council meeting being scheduled, the Council's president told reporters it is being considered; as to the weekend, she said she hopes not, it is her birthday.

 Here is DPRK Deputy An Myong Hun's opening statement:

  “I have requested to have this conference in order to provide the factual truth of the recent developments taking place on the Korean peninsula. On 4 August 2015, a 'mine explosion' of an unknown cause occurred in the vicinity of the south Korean military post in the southern portion of the demilitarized zone of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The name of the area is Bangmok-ri, Kunnae-myon, Phaju City, Kyonggi Province of south Korea. Just right after the occurrence of explosion, the south Korean military announced that plastic anti-personnel mine M-14, which was laid in the vicinity of the military post in the southern portion of the demilitarized zone, had gone off due to strong torrential rain.

  “However, on 10 August, spokesman of south Korean Defense Ministry appeared at a press conference and asserted that the 'mine explosion' occurred because of the reason that the 'north illegally crossed the MDL and deliberately laid wooden box mine.' South Korea cited as one evidence that in wooden box mine, there is "strong smells of resin" and therefore, 'the wooden box mine was recently laid by the north.' It is absolutely false logic. Since the mine was exploded, if there is any smell, there would be only a smell of gunpowder.

  “And there is another no surprise mistake that at first, south Korea said it is plastic anti-personal mine and then after a few days, it said it is wooden box mine. The south Korea also insisted that three 'fresh springs found in the mine after explosion are also from the north.' It never stands to reason to argue that the springs of the mine strongly exploded are fresh. In the demilitarized zone of the MDL, there are many instances of mines being exploded due to natural force such as torrential rain or fire, and there are various kinds of mines brought into from different countries. So-called 'mine explosion' is provocative pre-fabrication plot conceived in advance by south Korea for the sake of pursuing another purpose.

  “It was clearly evidenced by the fact that soon after the occurrence of 'mine explosion,' south Korea abruptly announced to resume psychological warfare broadcasting against the DPRK. It is a bad habit of the south Korea to groundlessly link whatever events occur in south Korea with the DPRK. They seek sinister purposes whenever they orchestrate ridiculous plots. By taking advantage of this case, the south Korea and the U.S. heightened  the intensity of Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises which started from 17 August, by introducing strategic bomber B-2A and stealth fighter F-22A into south Korea.

  “Again on 20 August, south Korean military made another intolerable provocation against the DPRK. The south Korean military fired 36 shells at the civil police posts of the Korean People's Army under the groundless pretext that the KPA fired one shell at the southern side. Gravity of the issue is that the south Korean military did not hesitate to launch such military provocative action without trying to confirm where a shell allegedly fired from the north came from, where it fell in its side, whether it is a gun shell or a bullet or a rocket or what.  As is shown above, the south Korea resumed the broadcasting for anti-DPRK psychological warfare in all areas of the front of the MDL under the pretext of a doubtful mine explosion and the broadcasting goes on day and night.

  “In this regard, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army sent an ultimatum at 17:00 o'clock on 20 August to the south Korean military that a strong military counter-action would be launched unless it stops the anti-DPRK broadcasting for psychological warfare and removes all broadcasting means within 48 hours. Nevertheless thereafter, the south Korean military invented a case of 'shell fired by the nort' and, under that pretext, fired dozens of shells on the DPRK's territory without any scientific grounds.

  “Now, the situation on the Korean peninsula inches close to the brink of a war due to the continued anti-DPRK political and military provocations by the U.S. and the south Korean military forces Psychological warfare against the DPRK is, in essence, an open act of war against it and vicious political and military provocations designed to destroy the ideas and system and all domains of the life of the DPRK and its people. Under the prevailing grave situation, an emergency enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was convened at night on 20 August. The meeting was presided over by Marshal Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the WPK and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK.

  “At the emergency enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Marshal Kim Jong Un issued an order of the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army that the frontline large combined units of the KPA should enter a wartime state to be fully battle-ready and the area along the front be put in a semi-war state from 17:00 on Friday, 21 August. On orders of Supreme Commander Marshal Kim Jong Un, all the KPA frontline large combined units immediately entered into a wartime state at once, fully armed to launch any surprise operations and finished their preparations for action. The enemy's provocation bases and anti-DPRK propaganda bases and means for psychological war are within the sight of the KPA's multiple rocket launchers and tactical and strategic rocket forces.

 "The grave situations now on the Korean peninsula have been created by south Korea at the start of the south Korean military on the basis of prefabricated provocation plots. Large-scale military exercise so-called Ulji Freedom Guardian involving tens of thousands of U.S. and south Korean military is going in south Korea  with an open purpose to 'eliminate the headquarters' of the DPRK and 'occupy Pyongyang.' If south Korean does not respond to our ultimatum, our military counteraction will be inevitable and that counteraction will be very strong.”

  Background: on August 10, Inner City Press asked the UN for the reaction of its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the speakers. From the UN's August 10 transcript:

Inner City Press: in the Korean peninsula, there's been this incident where two South Korean soldiers were injured by a land mine they say was planted by the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] in the demilitarized zone, and now South Korea says they're going to resume these "propaganda broadcasts" with loudspeakers.  Some stories say that the UN has confirmed these landmark… these land mines.  So, I'd like you to… to… which is the UN Command, whether it's a UN agency or not.  What does the Secretary-General think of this development, particularly the threatens… the statements of reprisal by South Korea and what, if anything, is he doing to try to defuse this tension?

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric:  Sure.  You know what?  I have some language on that, but not with me, so I will share with you right after the briefing.  And as you know, the UN Command is… is named “UN Command” for historical reasons — is not one over which the Secretary-General has any authority.

   Dujarric said he had some "language" on it. Inner City Press went to the spokesperson's office, but there was none. It would be emailed to Inner City Press, it was assured. At  4 pm, after Ban walked by an otherwise empty stakeout of a wan Burundi meeting of the UNSC, his office put out an entirely one sided statement, with no mention or reprisal or of propaganda:

"In response to questions asked earlier about an incident on the Demilitarized Zone in the Korean peninsula, the Spokesman had the following to say:

"The Secretary-General is concerned by the reports that the Korean People’s Army has placed new land mines in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone, which injured two soldiers from the Republic of Korea on 4 August. He urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fully adhere to the obligations under the Armistice Agreement and engage in dialogue on this incident.

"The Secretary-General urges the tensions on the Korean Peninsula to be alleviated."

  Make this man president of South Korea, one wag said. And here is what DPRK said, in a letter dated August 19 sent out the next day:

“Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to bring to your attention the aggressive joint military exercise so-called 'Ulji Freedom Guardian (UFG)' which is now being conducted by the United States in south Korea against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,” DPRK's Permanent Representative to the UN Ja Song Nam wrote to the Security Council's president for August.

   “The U.S.-led joint military exercises including the 'UFG,' which are staged one after another every year on the Korean peninsula and beyond, are serious provocations as well as a typical expression of the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK. The U.S. is again attempting to cover up the aggressive and dangerous nature of such exercises by describing them as 'annul' or 'defensive' ones. However, such real war-like military maneuvers, which mobilize massive armed forces and nuclear war means with a purpose of occupying Pyongyang, capital of the DPRK, can neither be "defensive" nor justified as 'routine' under the pretext of 'annual basis.'

  “The U.S. is going to force the DPRK into an arms race through ceaseless war drills and arms build-up in a sinister bid to throw hurdles in the DPRK's efforts for the economic development and the improvement of people's living and seek an opportunity for a preemptive attack on the DPRK by making it inattentive to increased vicious cycles of tensions. The U.S. war games clearly prove that it is the U.S. which instigates the vicious cycles of escalating confrontation and tension and creating the danger of war on the Korean peninsula. The U.S.-led aggressive and provocative large scale joint military exercises are no longer issues confined to the DPRK-U.S. or the inter-Korean relations but an international issue which threatens the peace and security in Northeast Asia and beyond.

  “Therefore, I request that the issue of the U.S. joint military exercises, be placed on the Security Council agenda, and that a meeting of the Security Council be urgently held in accordance with Articles 34 and 35 of the Charter of the United Nations. I would like to remind that the Security Council has unjustifiably ignored the DPRK's several requests to place the issue of the U.S. joint military exercises on the agenda of the Security Council.

   “Should the Security Council again ignore the DPRK's just request to discuss the U.S. joint military exercises, it will expose of itself that it is giving up its primary mission of maintaining the international peace and security and becoming a political tool of an individual power. If the U.S. persistently opts for military confrontation despite the repeated warnings of the DPRK and the shared denunciation by the international community, it will be held wholly accountable for all the ensuing consequences. The DPRK will not indefinitely wait for the U.S. to change its DPRK policy by seeing its sovereignty and security being threatened, but make all necessary steps to deter the U.S. nuclear provocation."

  On August 20, Inner City Press asked the UN to confirm what is widely reported in Nigeria, that Ban will be there on Sunday August 23. The UN wouldn't confirm - nor say if Ban is headed to any other countries. Watch this site.

A year after the Free UN Coalition for Access asked the UN why its in-house EZTV had channels from the US (CNN and Fox News), UK (BBC) and France (France 24) but none from China or Russia or India or Brazil, a new channel has been added: South Korea's Arirang.

 On July 15 the channel bragged it was on "UN In-House Network," President Park appeared on it saying hello to the UN community, just before promos and news casts promoting the country's foreign policy. A panel show - about the UN - featured CHOI Jong-moo, MUN Byeong-cheol and PARK Heung-soon, who said South Korea should "use" the UN. Duly noted.

 On July 15, after reporting on the addition, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric:

Inner City Press: I've noticed that the EZTV has this Arirang television on it, and about a year ago, I'd asked you about calling it P3 TV, that the current EZTV lineup has Fox and CNN from the United States, BBC from the U.K., France 24.  And you said that there was attempts to make it more diverse.  Has there been any attempt to get either India, Brazil, Russia, China, or is it sort of… how do these things happen?

Spokesman Dujarric:  Let me check.  Broadcasters often contact us and try to provide news feeds for us.  And as long as it has no cost to the UN…

Inner City press:  But is there a desire to have kind of a diversity?

Spokesman Dujarric:  The broader the information, the better.

  Ban Ki-moon, former foreign minister and perhaps future president of South Korea, apparently made a plug for the station. Given that current President Park appears on it, might this be a way for Ban to continue to be projected into the UN after 2016?

 Inner City Press, on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, asked about UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric back on April 29, 2014:

Inner City Press: I wanted to ask on the actual UN EZTV which has channels and it’s an in-house thing, it seems like now, there’s two French channels, there’s two American news channels, there’s Al-Jazeera, there’s no Russian or Chinese channel, so…

Spokesman Dujarric: We’re trying. Part of the issue is what we can get for free, we had to cut costs in terms of subscription so it was a cost issue, but I know it’s an effort on the part of [the Department of Public Information] to add more channels in different languages, but it’s also trying to do it in a way that doesn’t cost us a dime.

Inner City Press: It’s seems like P3 TV, do you see why?

Spokesman: Okay, that’s a comment, not a question.

Two days later there was an addition on UN in-house EZTV, but it is not Chinese or Russian: it's Japan's NHK. So G4 TV?

    

   

North Korea Says Owners of Mudubong Ship Held by Mexico May Sue

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 --The North Korean mission to the UN held a press conference at its office on Second Avenue on April 8, at which its Deputy Permanent Representative An Myong Hun denounced the continued detention of the Mudubong ship in Mexico.

 Now on April 17, the DPRK Mission has sent out this as a press release:

Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- The manager of the Mudubong Shipping Co. Ltd. gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA Thursday in connection with the fact that its cargo ship Mudubong has been interned for nine months in Mexico for an unjustifiable reason:
Mudubong, a trading cargo ship of our company, was stranded on coral reef off Tuxpan Port of Mexico on July 14, 2014 to be interned by the Mexican authorities for damaging coral reef. After the accident we indemnified losses under Mexican rules including relief fund... Our company has already suffered huge losses. If safe return of Mudubong, legitimate property of our company, is held in check, we are thinking of taking legal measures to
have damage and losses indemnified. 

  On April 8 An Myong Hun said that in January Mexico was going to release the ship, which ran into a Mexican coral reef (damage to which North Korea paid for) - then reversed its position, saying that a UN Under Secretary General had told them to hold the ship.

  Inner City Press asked An Myong Hun if that UN Under Secretary General was Angela Kane of Disarmament, soon to be replaced by Kim Won-soo (see Inner City Press' scoop, here). An Myong Hun said that the USG was unnamed - but said the United States was behind the continued "illegal" detention of the ship.

   

North Korea Blames US for Detention of Mudubong Ship by Mexico, Which Cited an UNnamed UN Official

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 8 --The North Korean mission to the UN held a press conference at its office on Second Avenue on April 8, at which its Deputy Permanent Representative An Myong Hun denounced the continued detention of the Mudubong ship in Mexico.

  An Myong Hun said that in January Mexico was going to release the ship, which ran into a Mexican coral reef (damage to which North Korea paid for) - then reversed its position, saying that a UN Under Secretary General had told them to hold the ship.

  Inner City Press asked An Myong Hun if that UN Under Secretary General was Angela Kane of Disarmament, soon to be replaced by Kim Won-soo (see Inner City Press' scoop, here). An Myong Hun said that the USG was unnamed - but said the United States was behind the continued "illegal" detention of the ship.

  But, An Myong Hun said, DPRK has not spoken about this with the United States. He was on his way to deliver a speech to the UN Disarmament meeting Inner City Press is also covering. 

Here's how An Myong Hung began his press conference:

"One peaceful commercial ship of my country has been detained for more than eight months and we think that this is complete abnormal situation. Mudubong, which was on a peaceful voyage for foreign trade activities, entered into one port at Mexico but unfortunately it went aground on a coral reef near that port. It was totally an accident. Mexico requested payment for damage to the coral reef according to its domestic law. We the DPRK fully paid all this compensation for environmental damage to the reef. And since we fulfilled our legal obligation by payment, Mexico authorities decided to release the Mudubong and allow Mudobong to leave the port, January this year.

"But suddenly, the Mexico government revoked its position. They said they have received advice from an unnamed Under Secretary General of the United Nations for the continued detention of the ship."

  The North Korean mission held another press conference back on February 16, President's Day, when the UN was closed. The purpose then  was to go public with the opposition of the DPRK Korea to the “Conference on North Korean Human Rights” to be held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on February 17.

   Inner City Press asked North Korean Ambassador Jang Il Hun if, as the Korea Times has reported, the event would be held in the US Capitol. No, he said, he expected it would be held on CSIS's campus. The State Department told him that since it is not a US government event - despite the participation of Ambassador Robert King and Kurt Campbell - the DPRK's request for cancellation or participation was not granted.

   But, Jang Il Hun said, why wasn't DPRK allowed to participate in the US goverment event in September 2014 in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel? Inner City Press covered that event, here, and asked the same question, in the spirit of the right to reply. 

  Despite the presence of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid, and a blue UN flag, Inner City Press was told that was not a “UN event,” so no right to reply.

  Inner City Press also asked Jang Il Hun if UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has replied to his government's recent letter. No, was the answer. Video here and embedded below. And so it goes at the UN.

  This press conference was held a small room at the DPRK mission on Second Avenue; Inner City press tweeted photos here, and here. 

  Jang Il Hun said he hoped this would be the first of many such events, part of DPRK's campaign. In the foyer were photographs of gifts given to DPRK, including a signed Wilson basketball. “Now you must leave,” the Press was told. Back at the UN, the temperature was 57 degrees. Watch this site.

Here's the DPRK Mission's statement:

No.4 /02/15

Press Statement of the Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations

The Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Unite Nations releases the following press statement with regard to the “Conference on North Korean Human Rights” to be hosted by the United States in Washington D.C.

The United States and south Korea are going to convene so-called "Conference on North Korean Human Rights: the Road Ahead" on 17 February in Washington by bringing together Michael Donald Kirby, former chairman of COI and Marzuki Darusman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK.

The Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations condemns the convening of such human rights gathering as a political human rights plot against the DPRK and makes clear its position as follows;

The "Conference on North Korean Human Rights: the Road Ahead " constitutes a product of the hostile policy of the United States against the DPRK, and it is nothing but a rubbish event for the United States to get rid of the predicament driven at home and abroad, due to the recent confession by the defector of the fabrication of his testimony and to the disclosure of CIA's torture crimes.

We made due request to the U.S. on our participation in the gathering, since we are the party directly concerned. But the U.S. ignored our request for participation because they are afraid of disclosure of their plot for fabrication.

The US is advised to clean up its own human rights ravages. If the U.S. is sincerely interested in human rights, they should, above all, call into question the CIA's torture crimes and the gross human rights violations committed by "national security law" in south Korea, far from clinging to the attempted fabrication of falsehood and plot through such as the kind of above "conference".

The United States does not have qualification at all to talk about human rights situation of other countries, since it is the worst human rights violator in the world.

We, the people of the DPRK are proud of our political and social system chosen by ourselves and we will strongly respond to any attempts to overthrow our system under the pretext of human rights.

   

As North Korea Rep Explains at UN Offer Already Made & Rejected in DC, Voice of America "Alert"

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS & DC, January 13 -- When North Korea's new deputy ambassador An Myong Hun on Tuesday called a press conference at the UN in New York on January 13 is was to explain “the proposal which the government of DPRK has put forward to the government of United States,” as he put it.

   Some hyped this up as "breaking," or as a "Voice of America alert." But the offer had already been publicly made, and earlier on January 13 in Congress US Ambassador to South Korea Kim has already said that DPRK - or North Korea as he called it - has "no right" to complain about the joint military exercises. VOA Alert!

  Notably, in the House of Representatives' hearing on the morning of January 13, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) talked up increasing the budget of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs Voice of America, to beam programming into North Korea including, he wants, the directors' cut of "The Interview."

   An Myong Hun said on January 13: “we the government of the DPRK propose to the US to temporarily suspend the joint military exercises which it conducts every year in South Korea. And if this is the case, we will respond by temporarily suspending nuclear tests which the US is concerned about.”

  Here's more, as fast transcribed by Inner City Press - no alert:

"this year we mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Korea. At the same time, it will mark the seventieth year since the division of Korea. For the last 70 years, the world has made tremendous advances. But still, the division of Korea continues. All the Korean nation has suffered a great pain of the division. It is a deplorable fact to everybody, and we the Korean nation can no longer tolerate and bear this tragedy.

"The US holds major responsibility. For the last 70 years since the division of the nation, the US has intervened in the internal affairs of the Korean nation, intervened in dialogue and cooperation between the north and south. It is the first policy of the US, hostile towards DPRK, that has hindered progress in relations between the north and south. Every year they undertake dangerous military exercises against the DPRK.”

   "Our respected Marshall Marshall Kim Jung Un has devoted much part of it to the issue of national reunification and to improving relations between North and South of Korea. In view of existing realities that are taking place on the Korean peninsula, it is very important to remove the danger of war, ease tensions, and create peaceful environment on the Korean peninsula, in order to achieve progress in improving relations between north and south of Korea. For this, the largest scale war exercises undertaken every year in South Korea, jointly by the US and South Korea, must stop immediately. The large scale war games, held in South Korea, are the root cause of the escalating tension on the Korean peninsula, and the danger of the nuclear war facing the Korean nation. It is needless to say there can by no real trustful dialogue nor improved inter Korea relations in such a gruesome atmosphere in which war exercises are staged.” 

  Back on August 1, 2014, now former Deputy Ambassador of the DPRK Ri Tong Il held a UN press conference to describe his government's July 21 letter to the UN Security Council requesting an emergency meeting about the US - South Korean joint military exercises.

  Inner City Press asked Ri Tong Il if he had asked for the letter to be formally circulated, and if to his knowledge any Council member had brought up the request in their bilateral meetings with UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, the Council's president for August. Or would North Korea take it to the General Assembly?

  Ri Tong Il replied that it is not a question of approaching individual countries, but a formal request to the Security Council. Inner City Press inquired with the mission of Rwanda, July's president, and got a copy of the letter and the response that there was no consensus for holding the requested emergency meeting. Inner City Press has put the letter online here.

  Also, at the bottom of this page is a fast transcript of the press conference, by Inner City Press & the Free UN Coalition for Access.

Inner City Press also asked Ri Tong Il for an update on his mission's announcement thirteen months ago that it sought the end of the so-called “UN Command” in South Korea. Ri Tong Il said his country remains opposed to it:

On UN command, the DPRK is consistently insisting on the dismantling of UN Command in South Korea. This is a UN body but not under the direction of the UN, it is not under the approval of its budget. If you look at the inside nature, 100 percent US troops. This is a typical example of position of power by the US. It should be dismantled. And we are raising it to the UN on a regular basis.

  Later on August 1 Inner City Press asked Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, if Ban has received North Korea's letter complaining about the Seth Rogen film “The Interview.” (Inner City Press has commented on the letter, here.). Dujarric said the letter has been received, but Ban has no response.

  Ban, of course, was South Korea's foreign minister. His c.v. or biography, including for a recent op-ed about Haiti(where the UN brought cholera and then has dodged accountability), states that Ban previously served as “Director of the UN’s International Organizations and Treaties Bureau.” 

 Other iterations say he was director of the “UN’s International Organizations and Treaties Bureau in South Korea, Seoul” (here). So was that really a UN (or “UN's”) agency? Or is is like the UN Command? Watch this site.

Footnote: In Ri Tong Il's press conference, the UN Correspondents Association demanded the first question, and gave it to a representative of a media from Japan - another representative of which took a second question, before other media got even one. While both are genial, this is how UNCA, a/k/a the UN's Censorship Alliance, works.

The new Free UN Coalition for Access is opposed to any set-asides or automatic first questions. Also, despite the continued censorship of the question, the Free UN Coalition for Access believes that at a minimum the UN should disclose “in kind” (or gift) private jet travel for Ban Ki-moon paid for by a state. We'll have more on this.

Fast transcript:

Good morning, distinguished colleagues. Thank you for your time. In today’s briefing I’d like to introduce the US-South Korea joint military exercises. It’s a serious nature and the formal request made by the DPRK upon the UN Security Council with regard to the join military exercises.
First, I’d like to talk about the US South Korea joint military exercises. As you know every year the US is continuing to open joint military exercises, large scale, one after another, thereby increasing tension and bringing about crisis of war on the Korean peninsula. The US has been holding large scale joint military exercises since 1953, after the end of the Korean war, ceasefire. And if you look at the number, they were holding these exercises, it is estimated at over 18,000 times. Now, if you calculate that figure, it is estimated one joint military exercise almost every year.

Now with regard to what kind of nature it is carrying, with regard to the situation on the Korean peninsula. The US is not hiding that the objective of their large scale joint military exercises with South Korea is to eliminate DPRK militarily. In this century, the first decade, the US declared the objective is to bring about regime change of the DPRK. In 2011, in August and November, the US conducted large scale joint military exercises with South Korea aimed at so-called stabilization and transition to civilian government in North Korea. In 2012, in March and May the US again conducted massive landing exercises targeted at Pyongyang. And in August they also conducted joint military exercises.

Coming into this year, 2014, the US already conducted and openly declared the objective of the exercises was to occupy Pyongyang.

If you look at another part of the serious nature of this joint military exercises, there is a very serious nature of 3 year old nuclear strike means, and most sophisticated weapons of mass destruction and massive number of troops. Now every time the joint military exerices open George Washingtom super large aircraft carrier along with other vessels and nuclear powered submarines and B52 bombers with nuclear weapons do not hesitate to come into South Korea.
This month in the middle of August will open another joint military exercise, involving over 500,000 US troops and a ground, naval, and air forces from South Korea. If you look at another part of the serious nature in terms of duration, it cannot compare to any other part of the world. If you look at the other large scale exercises conducted by the US, they cover one week, maximum one month, and not every year. Every two years, or after some years. However, the US South Korea joint exercises go beyond two months.

In March, the US issued a report naming the DPRK the state of direct threat and the so-called biggest adversary of the US. Openly announcing that in case of failure of the deterrents against DPRK they will enforce their own nuclear forces for suppression of the DPRK. This clearly indicates what kid of purpose these joint military exercises are pressuring.

The US has been conducting for almost 6 decades and they are carrying the nature of aggression against the DPRK in view of their nature and scale. On whatever ground, the US is making ridiculous argument on the threats and provocation of the DPRK to deceive the world. This will demonstrate that the major source of provocation on the Korean peninsula is none other than the United States.

I will talk about the defensive measures of the DPRK.

Now the ground, naval defense and air defense forces of the Korean people’s army are staging the ballistic tactical rocket launches of ultra precision and artillery fire in order to increase the power of self-defense. All these rocket launches are giving great strength and encouragement to the Korean people’s army and the people so that they can make steadfast progress in nation building based on this strong self defense. It is because all these successful launches are taking place in the middle of aggressive provocative military exercises of war against the DPRK.

It is the right of every sovereign state to have the right to defend its own sovereignty and peace and safeguard itself by military strength. The ongoing tactical rocket launches being conducted by the DPRK is natural, more than justifiable, because this is in response to the grave situation created by the large scale joint military exercises. And because of these ones the danger is increased. The environment for security and peace is not gifted by anyone, it is not commodity someone can buy or sell. Peace can be safeguarded only one’s own power is strengthened so trhat nobody can provoke. When there is no one’s own power, one can easily fall victim to the bargaining chip of power countries, and the important, valuable history inherited with bloody struggle can instantly be lost. This is a historical lesson. The DPRK has been warning the US and South Korea to stop all these dangerous exercises.

Coming into this year last January, the DPRK supreme governing body issued proposal, followed by open letter. Last June, the National Defense commission advanced another proposal, and last July DPRK government issued a statement. All these proposals converning the proposal on full-scale suspension of these exercises, and DPRK went ahead with generous initiative on its own.

However, every time we came to propose, the US and South Korean authorities made challenge by responding and opening provocative joint military exercises together, disregarding the sincerity and generosity of the DPRK. Last February, the US flew into South Korea B52 bombers equipped with nuclear eweapons when Northand South Korea were sitting together face ot face on a dialogue table to come to agreement.

There was another provocation last July. Again, North and South Korea were sitting together to discuss the participation of North Korean players in the Asian games. US did not hesitate to bring in South Korea George Washington super large nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

The US is misbehaving militarily in order to undermine dialogue, and North_South relations improvement. It is reminding us of the historical last symptom of mentally retarded patients.

Despite the fact that the US is the major source of increased tension, the US raised the question of tactical rocket launches of the DPRK at the UN security council and brought about so-called condemnation of the DPRK on the ground of so-called violation of UNSC resolution.

So third, I will talk about the request made by the DPRK upon the UNSC with regard to the US South Korea joint military exercises. The US and South Korea joint military exercise is the root cause of the aggravation of tension on the Korean peninsula and the peace and security cannot be guaranteed. Last July 21, the DPRK presented a formal request to the Security Council to open emergency meeting with regard to these exercises. If the UNSC is genuinely serious about the peace and security of the Korean peninsula, the UNSC should discuss the matter very seriously. If the UNSC turns away from this request, for the emergency meeting, it will only expose itself as a UN body which lost principles, lost impartiality, lost responsisbility with its mandate of securing international peace and security.

As long as the UNSC continues to disregard and turn away, in contravention of its mandate, DPRK will go alone. The situation on the Korean peninsula proves the pursuance and adoption of the parallel line policy of national economic building based on powerful nuclear deterrents is the right choice DPRK made. As long as the US continues blackmail, the DPRK will strengthen and consolidate its nuclear deterrent. As long as the US continues joint military exercises, the counter actions will become annual and routine.

In the process of continued dangerous joint military exercises, if there is any spark it will easily turn into war and the full responsibility will lie with the US and the UNSC who illegally support the US.

Q: to clarify, you intend to request a Security Council meeting?

A: As I said in my opening remarks, DPRK gave an official letter in the name of the PR of the DPRK to the United Nations on July 21, addressed to the president of the UNSC, officially requesting to put the question of joint military exercises into the agenda and openly discuss it in the form of emergency meeting. But so far there is no reply from the president. Maybe it is a silent procedure. I don’t think this is a silent procedure. They are ignoring. Disregarding. This is showing the working method of the UNSC which is a common concern of the UN member states.

Q: What outcome would you expect from the UNSC?

A: I introduced the nature of the military exercises being conducted by the US. It is not their land. It is Korean land. Now they are holding it for over 6 decades, unnoticed by the international community. We continue to struggle to stop it. US simply ignored it. Every time they responded with military exercises, increasing tension and climate of war. Now we asked for this emergency meeting, it is a question of the SC mandate, and we officially presented our letter, and they already discussed last July on request of the US. US is the major source of the threat on the Korean peninsula. It is ridiculous. This country is raising the issue and condemning the DPRK self-defense tactical rocket launches.

Q: What do you mean that the US is like a mentally ill patient? And, DPRK’s neighbors say DPRK is erratic, frightening, what’s your response?

A: When you say surrounding countries, can you name?

Q: Japan. South Korea.

A: Now you see. US, South Korea, Japan, they are military allies. US has military bases in Japan and in South Korea. The question of the US behavior – this is ridiculous behavior. If they are serious about peace and security on the Korean peninsula, they should remove their troops and nuclear weapons. They should not bring weapons of mass destruction. Now I refer to US, because this is the root cause of the tension on the Korean Peninsula. DPRK has never conducted military drills at the doorstep of US, and US has been doing it for over 6 decades at our doorstep. Now they say regime change is the objective. How can you explain this behavior?

Q: The US might say they bring nuclear armed vessels into South Korea because your country has nuclear weapons. Could you address that?

And, what can you say about DPRK missiles aimed at the US?

A: Nuclear weapons of the DPRK cannot be observed in isolation from the nuclear blackmail of the US. If there was no nuclear blackmail, if the US did not pressure the policy of nuclear preemptive strike against DPRK, under Bush administration, then there would be no nuclear weapon of the DPRK. And DPRK has no other option but to go nuclear. You can imagine. No country has been living like DPRK under serious threats to its existence, threat to its survival. That’s why DPRK made an option to go nuclear with a strong nuclear deterrent.

On the long-range missiles, DPRK has made it very clear, all the long-range missiles are targeted at the US since US is targeting Pyongyang.

Q: Was there any response from the Security Council to your request?

And, what did you say would be annual?
UNSC imposed new sanction on OMM. Is this a threat to you?

A: On the first question, I already answered that.
On annual, yes, now every time these exercises are being held, this is a response from United States and they are bringing in weapons of mass destruction ot South Korea. So under this nuclear blackmail, we made it clear our counter-actions will become annual and routine. This is self defense. It can be missile launch, nuclear test, depends on the option.

Q: Has your letter to the UNSC been circulated? Has any council member tried to get it on the agenda? Any development on UN Command?

A: On the response, I already answered, nothing to add.

On UN command, the DPRK is consistently insisting on the dismantling of UN Command in South Korea. This is a UN body but not under the direction of the UN, it is not under the approval of its budget. If you look at the inside nature, 100 percent US troops. This is a typical example of position of power by the US. It should be dismantled. And we are raising it to the UN on a regular basis.

Q: Should the letter be circulated?

A: Yes. No, it’s up to, in the coming years, what kind of action it will take.

Oh yes, the sanctions. They added another one. They are continuing to add. And the sanctions and resolution are illegal. DPRK rejects as unlawful against a sovereign state. They raised the question of satellites launched by the DPRK. But every UN member has sovereign rights. And DPRK is like the other countries. It is a state party to the outer space treaties. Every state has the right to conduct research for peaceful purposes. But Japan raised the satellite launch. And if their argument of the use of ballistic missile for satellite launch, we need to look at the US technology. They are also using ballistic missiles to alunch satellites. They should be number one target for sanctions by the UNSC. This can only invite strong powerful actions by the DPRK.

Q: What about the change to article 9 in Japan’s constitution, for re-militarizing? Is your government the target?

A: The US is opening its way toward militarization. They are going to repeat past crimes by having the right to collective self-defense. The US is supporting this dangerous move of Japan. It is an international concern and a concern of the DPRK. In the case of Japan, already agreed the current administration the president visited the shrine with no apologies for past crimes. And now they’re going through military moves, the right to collective self-defense, along with the military power Japan has accumulated, you can imagine what kind of nature, based on military power they have already,