NAN-ELS-6
Peninsula
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Nov.16, 2016 (NAN) The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Noh Kyu-duk, has called on Nigeria to support its move to achieve the unification of Korea.
Kyun-duk made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in his address at the ‘Roundtable Discussion on current situation of the Korean Peninsula and effort for peace and unification.”
He said “we need the cooperation of Nigeria to help achieve unification of Korea; we want you to have interest in this issue so that you can support us when the time comes.
“For the time being, it is good for Nigeria and Nigerians to have knowledge on what is going on.
“If the Nigerian media could package reports on the issues in the Korean peninsula, it would also go a long way to help.
“Nigeria is a country which carries a lot of political and economic weight; I thought that if I bring this issue of Korean Peninsula, it would be discussed in a meaningful way.
“The issue in the Korean Peninsula is one that is affecting international peace and security in our time.”
The ambassador said Korea was colonised by Japan and after liberation from colonial rule then came the division in 1945 where the south adopted democracy and free market economy and the North adopted communism.
He emphasised that the two countries were brothers and sisters but that the closed nature of the North had impeded its growth and friendship with the world except few countries.
The envoy added that the two Koreas have same culture but the political nature of the North deterred economic and political development of the isolated Region.
Meanwhile, Amb. Ayoko Adelakun, the Under Secretary, Regions and International Organisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria had maintained a friendly relationship with the two Koreas.
Adelakun said “Nigeria is not supportive of what North Korea is doing in relation to detonation and nuclear test because we believe in nuclear free zone.
“In the whole of Africa, you cannot test nuclear weapon, and that is the kind of zone we want in the whole world.
“In 1960s, there was wide spread of catarrh and cough; it was later discovered that the cause was a nuclear test that was carried out in Sahara desert by France.
“Nuclear technology can be used for treatment of cancer, multiplication of seedlings in agriculture, electricity; we support nuclear material for peaceful uses and not destruction,’’ Adelakun added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable was organized by the Korean Cultural Centre and attended by students and stakeholders in education, religious and international affairs. (NAN)
CMY/FAT/HA
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Edited by Fatima Sule/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu