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U.N. Disarmament Conference discusses denuclearization in North Korea and the Middle East

by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer

The 22nd United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues to discuss actions toward a nuclear-weapon-free world continued on August 26 at a hotel in Saitama Prefecture. Discussion was held on regional nuclear issues in such areas as the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

Ji-ah Paik, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea, criticized North Korea's nuclear test last year. She said that nuclear development is an anachronistic and ill-advised idea and that North Korea needs to make efforts for its denuclearization without reverting to the path of nuclear development. Li Hong, secretary-general of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, proposed a comprehensive solution of economic involvement and the establishment of a new security system.

With regard to the denuclearization of Northeast Asia, Li Hong and Ji-ah Paik expressed differing views. Li Hong shared strong support for the idea, saying that the denuclearization of Northeast Asia could be discussed alongside the nuclear issue of North Korea. Meanwhile, Ji-ah Park argued that immediate challenges should be addressed first.

Seyed Abbas Araguchi, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan, leveled criticism against the de facto nuclear weapon state of Israel while repeatedly asserting that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and that it continues to abide by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

James Acton of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace responded to the assertion. He contended that Iran has not been fully cooperative with the inspections conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing comments made by the nuclear watchdog.

(Originally published on August 27, 2010)

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