Zarif Highlights Peaceful Solution to Korean Peninsula Issues
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s foreign minister on Monday blamed foreign "counter-productive" intervention for the tensions on the Korean peninsula and said that Tehran considers peaceful solution as the way out of the crisis.
In a meeting with Kung Sam Hyun, the new ambassador of North Korea to Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected any type of foreign intervention (in the Korean dispute) and stressed that Iran sees dialogue as the best way to ease the tensions.
Zarif also hailed North Korean leader’s proposal to hold talks with the South.
“Tehran believes that the tensions on the Korean peninsula should be settled through a peaceful solution,” the Iranian foreign minister added.
The North Korean ambassador, for his part, referred to Pyongyang’s offer for holding talks with Seoul, and explained that the North Korean leader seeks to create a good and peaceful atmosphere between the two Koreas in the New Year.
He further highlighted the expansion of political and economic ties between Tehran and Pyongyang, and referred to meetings between officials from the two countries as an opportunity for strengthening bilateral ties.
Earlier today, South Korean President Park Geun-hye reiterated that she is willing to hold a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without any pre-condition.
Her remarks came after the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on his New Year’s message that he is open to a high-level summit with neighboring South Korea, days after a proposal from Seoul to resume dialogue.
The two sides are technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended only in a truce and not a peace treaty.
