Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, head of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, delivered a speech at the plenary meeting of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.

He said that Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, conducted energetic summit-level diplomatic activities with a firm determination to turn the Korean peninsula into a cradle of peace without any nuclear weapons and nuclear threats; and made important breakthrough in improving the North-South relations and the DPRK-U.S. relations and in revitalizing the friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring countries and hence made a turning point for dramatic easing of tension in the Korean peninsula.

He went on:

The vital factor in consolidating the peace and security in the Korean peninsula is to thoroughly implement the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement adopted in June at the historic DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore.

The primary task for effectively implementing the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement should be bringing down the wall of mistrust between the two countries which has existed for several decades; and to do so the DPRK and the U.S. should direct their first efforts to building trust.

It is our position that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula should also be realized under the principle of building peace regime and simultaneous action, step by step, starting with what we can do first and giving priority to building of trust.

However, we do not see any corresponding response from the U.S.

The reason behind the current deadlock is because the U.S. clings to authoritarian methods which are lethal to trust-building method.

The recent dramatic improvement of the North-South relations and the atmosphere of cooperation evidently show the decisive role of trust building.

The political oppositions in the U.S. make it their daily business to slander the DPRK claiming that our Republic cannot be trusted with the sole purpose of attacking their political opponent and they are enforcing the administration to make unreasonable unilateral demand to our side aimed at impeding the smooth progress of the dialogue and negotiations.

Creating mistrust towards the dialogue partner while only clinging to authoritarian methods is not helpful in building trust; on the contrary it only increases mistrust.

One part of the spirit of the DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore is getting rid of the stereo-typed way of thinking and finding a completely new way of solving the issues.

At this critical juncture, the U.S. should make a foresighted judgment that faithful fulfillment of its commitment in Singapore is, in the end, for the best national interests of the U.S. and should seek new method for solving the DPRK-U.S. relations. Only then there will be positive prospects for the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement.

If the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement falls victim to the domestic politics of the U.S., the greatest victim of the subsequent unpredictable consequences would be the U.S. itself.

Solving the DPRK-U.S. relations and issues in the Korean peninsula should be the key topic in achieving theme of this session: "Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies".

The implementation of the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement is a common responsibility of the DPRK and the U.S.; at the same time the UN also has its role in implementing the statement.

The UN Security Council that was once so eager to express "concern" to the tense situation in the Korean peninsula keeps silence even now about the precious momentum for peace in the Korean peninsula which has been achieved in this year; this is incomprehensible in any way.

Worse still, the UNSC is taking very concerning stand by rejecting the proposal by some of its member states to issue presidential statement that welcomes the DPRK-U.S. summit and the Joint Statement.

The UN should really apply the theme of this session to its actual activities and hence get rid of the stigma that "UNSC=U.S." as early as possible. -0-