UN chief calls for dialogue with NK

By Yi Whan-woo

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a resumption of dialogue with North Korea, Thursday, saying he is ready to “contribute in any way.”

“Good relations between the two Koreas are essential for lasting peace, not only on the Korean Peninsula but also throughout the region,” he said at a forum on the second day of visit to his home country. “We must find a path back to dialogue. I welcome all efforts to move forward.”

Ban did not say whether he was willing to visit North Korea; although he has been reportedly seeking to travel to the country for a meeting with its young leader Kim Jong-un.

In a separate forum hosted by a group of South Korean journalists, Wednesday, he said he is “the only one that has been maintaining a dialogue channel with Pyongyang.”

He also said it is crucial to pressure North Korea and pursue inter-Korean dialogue on humanitarian issues simultaneously.

Ban has been frequently suggested as a potential presidential candidate.

He said he would contemplate what to do when he returns home after completing his tenure at the U.N. later this year.

“Korea needs a leader who can unite the country and heal ideological and regional divisions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s remarks indicate that Ban, also a former foreign minister, is still seeking to visit North Korea during his remaining term following his failed attempts last year.

The Park Geun-hye administration has turned down repeated offers from Pyongyang to hold military talks. It said inter-Korean dialogue can only be resumed when the Kim Jong-un regime shows its commitment to denuclearization.

Seoul’s measures are in line with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s latest sanctions on North Korea _ Resolution 2270. This was imposed in March to discourage Pyongyang from pursuing its nuclear ambitions after its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and launch of a long-range rocket on Feb. 7.

The visiting U.N. chief encouraged North Korea to “cease any further provocations and return to full compliance with its international obligations.”

He also urged the international community to fully implement the UNSC’s sanctions on Pyongyang to promote denuclearization of the peninsula.

He claimed North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear and missile technologies undermines its national security while hurting its impoverished populace.

Seoul said it will not comply with Ban’s proposal concerning relief efforts.

“It is not the right time to offer humanitarian aid to North Korea,” said an official from the Ministry of Unification, which deals with inter-Korean issues. “The government remains convinced that the time to resume such aid should be considered very carefully.”

Ban left for Tokyo to attend the G7 summit later and will return to Korea, Friday.

He is scheduled to deliver a speech at the 2016 Rotary International Convention in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday.

Ban will also visit Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday, before joining the U.N. Department of Public Information (DPI)/NGO Conference in Gyeongju, also in North Gyeongsang Province.

Ban will return to New York, Monday.