Seoul sees peninsula nuke issue a long-term challenge

SEOUL — The Republic of Korea’s top diplomat on Monday saw the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as the biggest long-term challenge as it takes time to achieve the goal of a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.

The Korean Peninsula nuclear issue “remains the biggest challenge on our foreign affairs and security front and will continue to be so for many years to come,” Kang Kyung-wha told a news conference with foreign correspondents in Seoul.

Her comments came after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea tested last week what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb warhead that can be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The sixth nuclear test was seen as the most powerful one conducted by Pyongyang, which tested its first nuclear device in 2006.

Kang said she viewed the nuclear issue as a long-term challenge as it would take long to denuclearize in a verifiable manner, reiterating Seoul’s position that its eventual goal was to denuclearize the peninsula through complete dismantlement of the DPRK’s nuclear program.

Though Pyongyang continued provocations, Kang said, Seoul will continue to work to achieve the denuclearization in a peaceful manner.

It will not be easy, but we are steadfast in moving in that direction with patience and perseverance.”

Kang Kyung-wha,

ROK foreign minister