N. Korea threatens 'final destruction' for South at UN
The comments drew quick criticism from other nations, including South Korea, France, Germany and Britain, whose ambassador Joanne Adamson said such language was 'completely inappropriate' and the discussion with North Korea was heading in the wrong direction.
In this Feb. 16, 2013 image made from video, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, waves as he attends a statue unveiling ceremony at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang, North Korea on the anniversary of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's birthday.
KRT via AP Video/AP
GENEVA
听North Korea听threatened South Korea with "final destruction" during a debate at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday, saying it could take further steps after a nuclear test last week.
"As the saying goes, a new-born puppy knows no fear of a tiger.听South Korea's erratic behaviour would only herald its final destruction," North Korean diplomat听Jon Yong Ryong听told the meeting.
Jon's comments drew quick criticism from other nations, including听South Korea,听France,听Germany听and Britain, whose ambassador听Joanne Adamson听said such language was "completely inappropriate" and the discussion with听North Korea听was heading in the wrong direction.
"It cannot be allowed that we have expressions which refer to the possible destruction of U.N. member states," she said.
Spanish Ambassador听Javier Gil Catalina听said the comment left him stupefied and appeared to be a breach of international law.
"In the 30 years of my career I've never heard anything like it and it seems to me that we are not speaking about something that is even admissible, we are speaking about a threat of the use of force that is prohibited by Article 2.4 of the United Nations charter," Catalina said.
Since the North tested a nuclear bomb last week in defiance of U.N. resolutions, its southern neighbour has warned it could strike the isolated state if it believed an attack was imminent.
Pyongyang听said the aim of the test was to bolster its defences given the hostility of the听United States, which has led a push to impose sanctions on听North Korea.
"Our current nuclear test is the primary countermeasure taken by the DPRK in which it exercised its maximum self-restraint," said the North Korean diplomat Jon.
"If the U.S. takes a hostile approach toward the DPRK to the last, rendering the situation complicated, it (North Korea) will be left with no option but to take the second and third stronger steps in succession," he said, without indicating what that might entail.
North Korea听has already told key ally听China听that it is prepared to stage one or two more tests this year to force the听United States听into diplomatic talks, a source with direct knowledge of the message told Reuters last week.
"OFFENSIVE"
U.S. Ambassador听Laura Kennedy听said she found听North Korea's threat on Tuesday profoundly disturbing and later tweeted that it was "offensive".
Poland's representative suggested听North Korea's participation in the U.N. forum should be limited.
Impoverished and malnourished听North Korea听is one of the most heavily sanctioned states in the world.
It is still technically at war with听South Korea听after a 1950-53 civil war ended in a mere truce.
Washington and its allies are believed to be pushing to tighten the noose around听North Korea's financial transactions in a bid to starve its leadership of funding.
Jon said last week's test was an act of self-defence against nuclear blackmail by the听United States, which wanted to block听North Korea's economic development and its fundamental rights.
"It is the disposition and firm will of the听army听and people of the DPRK to counter high-handed policy with tough-fist policy and to react to pressure and sanctions with an all-out counter-action," he said.
Jon said the听United States听had conducted most of the nuclear tests and satellite launches in history, and he described its pursuit of U.N. Security Council resolutions against听North Korea听as "a breach of international law and the height of double standards".
Neither听Russia听nor听China, which are veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, spoke at Tuesday's meeting in Geneva.
Before its nuclear test,听North Korea听was already facing growing diplomatic pressure at the听United Nations.
The U.N. Human Rights Council is widely expected to order an inquiry next month into its leaders' responsibilities for crimes against humanity.
(Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)