Unification Spokesperson’s Commentary on North Korea’s 7th Workers’ Party Congress Work Report
May 8, 2016
■ North Korea announced through its central news agency today(5.8), that Kim Jong-un has evaluated accomplishments achieved since the previous congress, and presented policy directions and tasks for the future at the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party.
■ Kim Jong-un reiterated the North is a nuclear weapons state that has successfully conducted four nuclear tests, including a hydrogen bomb test. Kim went on and stated that North Korea will adhere to its ‘Byungjin’ policy of nuclear and economic development and further strengthen its nuclear capabilities.
● However, both the R.O.K. government and the international community are firm on the shared position that North Korea cannot be acknowledged as a nuclear state. It is made clear that the international community will continue efforts to pressure the North to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons program through the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2270, the strongest ever sanctions against North Korea.
● In such grave situation, North Korea’s claim of being a ‘responsible nuclear weapons state’ and striving for ‘global denuclearization’ while pursuing its ‘Byungjin’ policy plainly shows that it has no intent of giving up on its nuclear weapons, which the international community will not accept.
● North Korea must stray from the illusion of nuclear development and show sincerity toward denuclearization through its action.
■ Kim’s comment on peace, unification, and inter-Korean relations is no more than a reiteration of its previous position.
● Suggesting dialogue and negotiation to improve inter-Korean relations while pursuing nuclear development and provocations directed at the South is a mere propaganda offensive with no sincerity.
■ If North Korea truly wants to improve inter-Korean relations and promote peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula, it must suspend its threats and provocations toward the South and pursue denuclearization with sincerity.
* unofficial translation
