UN Secretary-General Ban urges for inter-Korean dialogues

UN Secretary-General Ban urges for inter-Korean dialogues. May. 27, 2016 08:12. by 제주=조숭호기자 shcho@donga.com.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed Thursday that he would do his best to address inter-Korean issues, saying, “We need to find a way toward dialogues (with North Korea).”

“I would like to urge North Korea to stop provocations and return to complying with international obligations,” Ban said in a keynote speech of the 2016 Jeju Forum held at the Jeju International Convention Center.

“An improvement in the inter-Korean relationship will play a critical role in bringing peace permanently,” he said. “I will contribute to this in anyway in my capacity as a UN Secretary-General and in my personal capacity.”

About the media coverage over his remark at the Kwanhun Club forum implying his running for president, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong told reporters that Ban said, “It (the media) went too far from his intention. Ban is pretty embarrassed because clarifying this could lead to another controversy.” Ban who headed for Japan to participate in the G7 Summit will return to Korea on Friday evening.