DPRK criticizes UN Secretary General

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) strongly criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned North Korea's launch of a missile carrying its first reconnaissance satellite, Report informs, citing KCNA.

Jo Chol Su, director general of the Department of International Organizations of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, made public the following press statement on Friday:

"I strongly protest against the 'statement' issued by the UN secretary-general denouncing the DPRK's launch of military reconnaissance satellite and resolutely condemn and reject his improper behavior of encroaching upon the legitimate sovereign right of a member state of the UN as an extremely unfair and unbalanced act of interfering in its internal affairs.

"The equality of sovereignty, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs are the basis of the establishment of the UN as well as the basic spirit of the UN Charter.

"The DPRK's launch of military reconnaissance satellite is a logical and legitimate response to the undisguised military threat of the U.S. and its allies and an exercise of the universal right of a sovereign state to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"I think that Secretary-General Guterres should pay bigger attention and energy to the international pending issues that the international community awaits an immediate solution rather than needlessly interfering in the natural exercise of the sovereignty of UN member states."