SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS JAPAN-DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA PYONGYANG DECLARATION ‘LANDMARK CONTRIBUTION TO REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY’

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS JAPAN-DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA PYONGYANG

DECLARATION ‘LANDMARK CONTRIBUTION TO REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is very much encouraged by the success of the historic visit by the Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi to Pyongyang and his talks with the Chairman of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) National Defence Commission, Kim Jong Il.  He hopes that the resolve of the two leaders to settle the past and address in earnest existing concerns, particularly of a humanitarian and security nature, would lead to a speedy normalization of bilateral relations.  The Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, adopted at the summit, is a landmark contribution to regional peace and security.

With the inter-Korean dialogue back on track, with family reunions becoming more regular, with good prospects for reconnecting their railways and other economic projects, the Secretary-General looks forward to a continued building of trust and confidence between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. 

The Secretary-General believes that the international community should render its full support for these efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to the Peninsula.  He also appeals to donor countries to help the United Nations humanitarian and developmental effort in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 

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