UN envoy after visiting North Korea: ‘Time is of the essence’

The United Nations (U.N.) undersecretary-general for political affairs emphasized the need for reduced tensions between the international community and North Korea after his visit to the isolated country last week. 

“Time is of the essence,” Jeffrey Feltman said in a statement to journalists on Saturday. 

Feltman expressed the need for “the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions,” and said that only a diplomatic solution to the conflict could be reached, by way of “sincere dialogue.”

{mosads}The envoy’s comments come after his trip to North Korea last week, which marked the first trip to the country by a U.N. official in 6 years. 

Feltman met with North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho during the visit and shared the view “that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today,” according to the U.N. statement. 

The comments come after North Korea in November fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in two months. 

Pyongyang has launched multiple missiles over the past year, causing concern among the international community. 

President Trump has hit North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in recent months, vowing to destroy the country if the U.S. or its allies are threatened.