Society

New Agendas on DPRK Approved in Annual UN General Debate



From September 19 to September 25, 2017, the 72th annual UN general debate was held. They discuss global issues such as global warming, menaces to global security and other global issues. Following the debate, the UN offers resolutions for global development and world peace every year.
Nowadays, the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea pushes ahead with nuclear experiments for weapons development, ignoring other countries’ warnings. The DPRK, from Kim Il-sung to Kim Jung-un, has carried out anti-American policies. Moreover, it has continued to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear warhead missiles and threatened America, Japan and South Korea. To deal with this situation, some countries’ presidents including America Japan, and South Korea mentioned this matter in their addresses. After the addresses, the representatives of each country voted about the propositions. On September 27, three agendas were approved as resolutions for world security in the annual UN general debate. They are as follows:
(A/C.1/72/L.19) Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments.
(A/C.1/72/L.35) United action with renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons: draft resolution.
(A/C.1/72/L.42) Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
The resolutions are indirectly aimed at the DPRK’s nuclear weapons provocations. Representatives of each country gave addresses. In some addresses, security in Asia was mentioned. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, proposed the L35 resolution. He mentioned atomic bomb victims in Japan, called hibakusha in Japanese, during World War II for the reason. For this resolution, four countries, DPRK, Russia, Syria and China, opposed. Most pro-American countries, including America, assented to this resolution, but Korea abstained. Moon Jae-in, President of Korea, emphasized in his address that using political pressure on the DPRK is also important, but it must be performed in a peaceful way . On the other hand, Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump demanded strong restrictions and increased sanctions on DPRK. Shinzo Abe emphasized in his address that pressure is needed for the DPRK not conversation. In addition, CNN broadcasted that Donald Trump said, “N.Korea’s ‘rocket man’ is on a suicide mission.” and “I will always put America first as president of America.” He also said in his address, “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”
The DPRK’s nuclear ambition is sensitive to many countries around the world, including Korea, America, China, Russia and Japan. Because of the global concern, three resolutions passed. Although these resolutions are aimed at the DPRK, I think all countries need to reflect on these to maintain world peace. Make an effort not only for political profit but also for peace.