Kim Son Gyong, Vice Foreign Minister for international organizations of the DPRK, issued the following press statement on February 22, 2023:

The UN Secretary-General reportedly committed an impropriety of making provocative remarks with regard to the DPRK’s self-defensive response to the anti-DPRK military actions and threat of the U.S. and south Korea.

I express strong disapproval and protest against such attitude assumed by the UN Secretary-General, who closes his eyes and keeps mum about the dangerous military actions taken by the U.S. and south Korea but brands instead the DPRK’s legitimate exercise of right to self-defence against the provokers as “provocation” and “threat” – the height of injustice and imbalance.

We have already and understandably advised the Secretary-General several times on the necessity of remaining true to his duty as specified in the UN Charter and of maintaining fairness and impartiality in his dealings with the Korean peninsula issue.

Most appalling and deplorable, however, is the fact that the Secretary-General carries on with his illogical, absurd and reckless remarks which are little different from those of U.S. state department officials over the past years.

The recent response from the DPRK armed forces signifies a countermeasure against the U.S., which has frequently introduced such evident strategic means of assault as strategic bombers in the vicinity of Korean peninsula and, together with south Korea, posed a serious threat to the security interests of the DPRK from the outset of the year. It is, more precisely, a warning in the form of action against the convocation of a UN Security Council meeting aimed at taking issue with the DPRK’s right to self-defence for no apparent reason.

As the UN Secretary-General, he should have properly considered the root cause of the ever-worsening situation on the Korean peninsula this year and, accordingly, adopted a fair and balanced attitude by presenting constructive proposals to help the situation be substantially stabilized.

The Korean peninsula is again caught up in the apprehensive, vicious circle of ever-worsening situation, the root cause of which is none other than the reckless military rashness and ill-advised, irresponsible bravery of the U.S. and south Korea seeking to contain the DPRK by force.

The organization of UN which is meant for playing a fair role in ensuring global peace and security, is being abused instead as a tool for implementing the unjust U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, thereby losing confidence of the international community, which is also largely attributable to the unfair behavior of UN Secretary-General Guterres himself.

The Secretary-General would be well-advised to see clearly that his unreasonable and prejudiced stand on the Korean peninsula issue is working as a factor inciting the hostility of the U.S. and its followers against the DPRK.

We make clear well in advance that should an unwanted situation arise on the Korean peninsula due to the excessive military adventure of the U.S. and south Korea, the UN Secretary-General, who has not yet expressed any concern, far from deterring their provocative acts, can never be free from the subsequent heavy responsibility.