“The recent developments have strengthened the international consensus that the DPRK will not be accepted as a nuclear-weapon-state,” Ban told a news briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
He also called on Pyongyang to "seriously" consider a recent offer of dialogue from Seoul amid soaring military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
“I continue to urge the DPRK leadership to reverse course and return to the negotiating table,” the UN Secretary-General said.
He also encouraged the North Korean leadership to focus on the well-being of its people as the humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate.
Tensions rose sharply on the Korean Peninsula in December after North Korea tested a long-range Taepodong 2 missile, and again in February when it carried out its third nuclear test in violation of UN resolutions.
The UN responded with sanctions. The start of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States last month further irritated the North, which threatened to carry out a nuclear attack on South Korea and the US mainland, as well as on US forces in the region.
Pyongyang rejected South Korea's offer of dialogue last week as a ‘crafty trick’ and demanded an apology for ‘all the major and minor hostile actions’ against North Korea.
