South highlights phased, flexible North denuclearization approach at UN NPT event

South Korea underscored a phased and flexible approach to North Korea's denuclearization at an event on Pyongyang's nuclear ambition and its challenges to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime, Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

During the event, co-hosted by France in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 11th United Nations (UN) NPT Review Conference, Ha Wi-young, the director-general for international security of the ministry, stressed the importance of maintaining the goal of North Korea's complete denuclearization.

He also raised the need to pursue flexible strategies in tackling North Korea's nuclear issue, including phased approaches, citing shifting strategic conditions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea and France have jointly organized North Korea-related events on the occasion of the UN NPT conferences since 2017. This year's gathering was attended by around 70 participants from governments, academia and international organizations.

Kim Sang-jin, South Korea's deputy ambassador to the UN, noted the advancements in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs while assessing that the dissolution of an experts sanctions panel within the UN Security Council and deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have further complicated the situation.

He added that South Korea will continue its efforts to pursue denuclearization through practical measures and seek to restart dialogue with North Korea.

Participants at the event reaffirmed that North Korea's continued nuclear activities pose a serious challenge to the global nonproliferation regime and called for flexible and creative measures to uphold the integrity of the NPT, the ministry said.

Yonhap