DPRK representative vows to promote friendship with other countries in UN The head of the delegation of the DPRK made a speech at the general debate of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sep 30. He said that peace and development, a common aspiration of the present era, are the pillars of UN activities and the main objectives that regulate all UN activities. Despite the efforts by a large number of UN members, he noted, peace and development are still faced with serious challenges. He added that the principles of respect for sovereignty and sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter are grossly violated in the international arena. The international situation in the last one year requires the UN to further enhance its role and the prevailing reality teaches a serious lesson that only when each nation possesses powerful strength of its own can it achieve true peace and security, he said. “The current situation marked by increased hostile acts against our country demands that we hold higher the banner of self-sufficiency and self-reliance in socialist construction. “We have solid foundations of the self-supporting economy, reliable scientific and technical personnel and invaluable tradition of self-reliance; these are our precious strategic resources which cannot be bartered for anything.” Saying the implementation of the inter-Korean declarations that were hailed at home and abroad just a year ago is now in limbo, the DPRK representative attributed it to the double-dealing of the south Korean authorities who performed the act of "handshake of peace" before the world, but behind the scenes introduce latest offensive weapons and hold joint military exercises with the US against the DPRK. The improvement of inter-Korean relations can only be achieved when the south Korean authorities put an end to the big power worship and dependence on foreign forces encroaching upon the common interests of the nation and when they fulfil their responsibility they assume before the nation by implementing the inter-Korean declarations in good faith, he noted. “The government of the DPRK will develop and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation with all countries of the world that respect its sovereignty with friendly attitude, and will work hand in hand with all peace-loving forces of the world to establish a lasting and durable peace regime on the Korean peninsula,” he said. KCNA