Denuclearizing Korean Peninsula is shared international goal: unification ministry

The unification ministry reaffirmed Monday that denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is a goal universally shared by the international community, days after North Korea described it as a "pipe dream."

"Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the international community's unanimous goal," unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told a briefing, saying the government is continuing communication and cooperation with key nations regarding the matter.

The remarks were in response to North Korea's statement issued Saturday, calling denuclearization of the peninsula "a pipe dream" that can never be realized.

The North issued the statement under Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho's name, after South Korea's presidential office said the issue would be on the agenda for President Lee Jae Myung's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which took place last Saturday.

Koo also said the window of opportunity for North Korea-U.S. dialogue remains open, urging Pyongyang to "make a strategic decision not to miss the opportunity."

Seoul will make consistent efforts to support dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, and to resume its own dialogue with the North, he also noted.

As U.S. President Donald Trump visited South Korea last week on the occasion of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gatherings, he repeatedly offered to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for talks. But Pyongyang remained silent on the offers.