‘Time is of the essence,’ UN political chief tells Pyongyang

New York (dpa) Dec 10, 2017 - “Time is of the essence” to find a diplomatic solution to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the UN’s political chief told North Korea’s foreign minister during a visit to Pyongyang this week, a spokesman said Saturday.  

Jeffrey Feltman, the highest-ranking UN official to visit the reclusive communist state since February 2010, had a series of meetings with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and his deputy Pak Myong Guk in the trip which ran from Tuesday to Friday.  

Both parties agreed that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today, the UN said in a statement.  

Feltman’s visit follows last month’s launch by North Korea of a ballistic missile that Pyongyang said could reach the entire US mainland.  

But a UN spokesman stressed before Feltman set off that the invitation was extended on the sidelines of the UN’s General Assembly in October, and was not in reaction to the latest provocation.