SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES DECLARATION ON SOUTH-NORTH KOREAN RELATIONS; COMMENDS

TWO LEADERS’ COMMITMENT TO EXPAND RELATIONS, MOVE TOWARDS NON-NUCLEAR PENINSULA

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity, signed in Pyongyang today by the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, as a major step forward to enhance inter-Korean cooperation, as well as peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in North-East Asia.

The Secretary-General commends the two leaders’ commitment to expand and advance inter-Korean relations, as well as to move towards permanent peace on a non-nuclear peninsula through increased bilateral dialogue, cooperation and multilateral diplomacy, including the six-party talks.

The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance as may be required, in cooperation with the international community.

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