Spotlight: UN "deeply concerned" over mounting tension over Korean Peninsula

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" with rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, his spokesman said here Monday, calling on all to "redouble their diplomatic efforts" to de-escalate and return to "dialogue on denuclearization" and implementation of Security Council resolutions.

Reaction to the launch on Saturday of a test missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) came only minutes after Pyongyang's UN Ambassador Kim In Ryong told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday that "if the U.S. dares opt for a military action, crying out for 'preemptive attack' and 'removal of the headquarters,' the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S."

Over the Weekend, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, visiting Seoul, warned Pyongyang, "the era of strategic patience is over."

"We are obviously deeply concerned about the rising tensions that we've seen in the Korean Peninsula," said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "We call on all to redouble their diplomatic efforts. The latest launch that we saw over the weekend from the DPRK was troubling."

"We call on the DPRK to take all the steps necessary to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue on denuclearization," Dujarric said.

"All Security Council resolutions must be fully implemented and we note that the Security Council has consistently stated its commitment to peaceful, diplomatic and political solution," he added.

The Security Council has passed more than 20 resolutions imposing ever-tightening sanctions on the DPRK because of its nuclear and missile programs.

Pyongyang maintains its nuclear development program, and development of missiles to carry nuclear weapons, is because of threats from the United States and South Korea and says it does not recognize the UN resolutions.

This month, Washington holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council and in that capacity has scheduled a ministerial-level meeting on April 28 on the subject of nuclear non-proliferation. The DPRK's nuclear program will be spotlighted.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is expected to chair the session.

"I strongly censure and categorically reject the convening of a briefing on DPRK nuclear issue as another abuse of authority, behavior of double standards and violation of the DPRK's sovereignty by the UN Security Council acting under instructions of the United States," Ambassador Kim said.

"As everybody knows nowadays the U.S., without any hesitation, perpetrates military attacks and threatens a sovereign state while claiming for 'peace by strength,'" he said. "The recent U.S. massive missile attack on Syria tells you well of it."

"The U.S. is disturbing the global peace and stability and insisting on the gangster-like logic that its invasion of a sovereign state is 'decisive, just and proportionate,'" the ambassador said, referring to Washington's justification for the rain of missiles on a Syrian air base following a chemical weapons attack April 4 on Syrian civilians.

In response to an aircraft carrier-led armada of U.S. naval ships to the seas just east of the DPRK, the ambassador said, "the U.S. introduces into the Korean peninsula, the world's biggest hotspot, huge nuclear strategic asses, seriously threatening peace and security of the peninsula and pushing the situation there to the brink of war."

"This has created a dangerous situation in which a thermo-nuclear war may break out at any moment," he said. Endit