US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is seen addressing the 10th Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York on Monday, in this image captured from the website of US cable news network C-Span. (C-Span)
WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on Monday, citing threats posed by North Korea and Iran.
The top US diplomat reiterated the world faced a "critical moment" amid fears of a potential North Korean nuclear test.
"And so we come together at a critical moment. The DPRK continues to expand its unlawful nuclear program and continues its ongoing provocations against the region," Blinken said, addressing the 10th NPT Review Conference at the UN headquarters in New York.
"As we gather today, Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its seventh nuclear test. Iran remains on a path of nuclear escalation," he added.
DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Seoul and Washington have said the North appears to have completed "all preparations" for a nuclear test and that it may be only gauging the timing.
Pyongyang conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017. The reclusive country withdrew from the NPT in January 2003.
Blinken said the US will not use nuclear weapons, unless necessary to defend itself and its allies.
"As long as nuclear weapons exist, the fundamental role of US nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attacks on the United States, on our allies and partners," he said.
"The United States would only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States and its allies and partners," added Blinken.
He noted the treaty was facing many challenges.
"This is a critical moment for the NPT," Blinken said while speaking later to reporters in New York.
"It's a challenging one, too, because different parts of this regime are under challenge, and of course, we see that particularly in the area of non-proliferation. One, we have challenges being posed by Iran, by North Korea, and now in different ways by Russia," he added.
Blinken also underscored the need to implement and further strengthen the NPT.
"This has now been enforced for 50 years. It's made a powerful difference to the world in making the world a safer place, making it less dangerous," he said.
"So (in) the next 30 days, the work that's being done here by countries around the world to reaffirm the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to strengthen it, to strengthen each one of its pillars -- disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful use -- is more vital than it's ever been," added Blinken. (Yonhap)
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