UN chief highlights 'nuclear peril' in work report to General Assembly

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted "nuclear peril" while addressing the General Assembly that had just kicked off its annual general debate.

"Today global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War," he said.

Guterres condemned the nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In his annual work report to the General Assembly, Guterres said, "Our world is in trouble. People are hurting and angry. They see insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading and climate changing."

The UN chief listed seven threats that face the world.

Among them, "the use of nuclear weapons should be unthinkable. Even the threat of their use can never be condoned," he said.

"I call on the DPRK and all Member States to comply fully with Security Council resolutions," said the UN chief.

The Secretary-General said that last week's unanimous adoption of Resolution 2375 "tightens sanctions and sends a clear message regarding the country's international obligations".

"I appeal to the Council to maintain its unity," he said. "Only that unity can lead to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and -- as the resolution recognizes -- create an opportunity for diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis."

Once again, the UN chief stressed that the solution "must be political. This is a time for statesmanship".

"We must not sleepwalk our way into war," he added.

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday morning started its annual general debate, with heads of state and government and other senior state representatives gathering at the UN headquarters to present their views on pressing world issues.