Ri Jong Hyok, deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and director of the National Reunification Institute who led the SPA delegation, made a speech at the plenary session held under the theme; achieving peace and development of Asia.

He said:

The nations in Asia, who had removed the century-long legacies of colonial domination caused by the western powers and are dynamically advancing towards peaceful and prosperous Asia.

However, due to the unchanging ambition of the powers for domination of the Asian continent and their aggressive interference in the region, the peace and development are still facing grave challenges in our region, including the Northeast Asia and the Middle East.

In particular, the tension on the Korean Peninsula is aggravated day after day since the emergence of the Trump administration causing serious concern over the world.

While the U.S. threat of nuclear war against the DPRK is perilous, which was hardly seen even during the Cold War period, the sanctions against the DPRK are also extremely reckless and barbarous one.

The U.S. is attempting to obscure the real purpose of the sanctions by arguing that it is a "peaceful solution". However, it can never cover up the inhumane and criminal features of the sanctions to isolate and stifle our State and nation by primitive means, who never gave in to nuclear threats.

History shows that if our country, the east gate to the Asian continent, is weak, the Korean peninsula would become the competing ground of the powers and whole of Asia would be involved in the vortex of war.

Our army and people, holding in high esteem respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, will resolutely smash the reckless nuclear war provocation and the sinister moves of sanctions and pressure of the Unites States by further increasing our own strength under the banner of independence and self-reliance. And we will also fulfill our mission in the struggle to safeguard the peace in the Korean Peninsula and Asia and realize international justice.

I am convinced that the theme of this plenary; achieving peace and development of Asia, will surely become a reality when all Asian peoples are united under the idea of independence, peace and friendship.

In conclusion, I would like to express unreserved support to and solidarity with the peoples in Asian countries including Iran, Syria and Palestine who are struggling to put an end to the interference of foreign forces and to defend the sovereignty of the nation.