On the Verge of WWIII? UN Chief Blasts 'Madness' of North Korean Claim Nuclear Conflict ‘Imminent’

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, recently expressed grave concern after North Korea claimed the isolated country is on the verge of nuclear conflict.

During his address to the General Assembly on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in New York City, Guterres conveyed his apprehension.

This came after Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, asserted to the assembly about the imminent danger of nuclear war on the Korean peninsula, blaming South Korea's reliance on external forces for the tense situation.

Guterres stated the need for urgent action to reduce and ultimately eradicate nuclear weapons to halt what he described as "madness."

He emphasized, "The real only way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them. Any use of a nuclear weapon — anytime, anywhere and in any context — would unleash a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions," echoing the sentiments of survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Guterres warned against a resurgence of nuclear arms race, erosion of disarmament norms and modernization of nuclear arsenals.

He called upon nuclear-weapon States to take the lead in disarmament efforts and uphold their obligations to never use such weapons under any circumstances.

Additionally, Guterres emphasized the importance of reinforcing existing nuclear-disarmament-and-non-proliferation agreements, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

He urged countries, particularly China and the US, to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty without delay.

Moreover, Guterres stressed the significance of dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation in preventing nuclear warfare and addressing the evolving nexus between nuclear weapons and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

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Guterres called for a collective effort to steer away from the brink of disaster and usher in a new era of peace by consigning nuclear weapons to history.

His remarks came amid mounting concerns over reported preparations for nuclear tests by Russia, China and the United States, evidenced by increased activity at their respective nuclear test facilities.