South Korean president asks UN to verify closure of North's test site

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has asked the United Nations to verify the planned closure of North Korea's nuclear test site. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, Mr Moon made the request in a phone call to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. 

The spokesman said, Mr Moon also asked for UN support to transform the demilitarised zone into a peace zone between the two Koreas. Mr Guterres pledged UN's full support to further talks between Pyonyang



and Seoul.

During a summit on Friday, Mr Kim had told Mr Moon that he planned to dismantle the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. The leaders pledged to pursue a permanent peace treaty and denuclearise the Korean peninsula. 

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's global nuclear watchdog, has the expertise to carry out verification missions.