DPRK nuke programme termed global threat

President Sauli Niinistö on Wednesday said, “The North Korean nuclear weapons programme is a threat to global peace, and it must be stopped.”

“The United Nations Security Council’s co-operation on North Korea has been successful. It is important that unity prevails,” Niinistö said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

The president in his speech also focused on effective measures for climate protection and conflict mediation across the world.

Referring to the “continued provocations” by North Korea, he said such behaviour can’t be tolerated and Finland, as part of the European Union, stands firmly behind the sanctions and calls on others to do the same.

“A solution can only be sought through negotiations and the North Korean government must participate without preconditions,” the president said, adding that Finland’s approach to nuclear disarmament is result-oriented and pragmatic.

He called on all nuclear weapon states and countries possessing these weapons to promptly take concrete actions for nuclear disarmament.

“It is important that the nuclear deal on Iran is honoured by all parties. I also welcome the recent talks on strategic stability between the United States and the Russian Federation. It is our hope that they will restart the arms control talks in Europe and globally,” Niinistö added.

Speaking on the conflict across the world, he said Finland continues to advocate the use of mediation in conflict resolution.

He said climate change binds together the south and the north. “None of us will be spared from its destructive effects. Besides direct environmental impacts, it affects security and results in forced migration,” he reiterated, adding that the rapid implementation of the Paris Agreement is even more urgent than a year ago.

“We are not on that path currently,” Niinistö remarked, emphasising that “We have to speed up our efforts – the window to act is closing. The energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables and energy efficiency has to be much faster than we see today. Everyone’s effort is needed.”