Guterres Expresses Concerns over New Atomic Arms Race

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concerns over a new atomic arms race, bringing the threat of “annihilation” to the world, as North Korea charged that its peninsula was on the brink of nuclear war.

In his address to the General Assembly on the final day of its yearly session, the UN chief called for a revitalized push to reduce and eventually eliminate those weapons.

“A worrisome new arms race is brewing. The number of nuclear weapons could rise for the first time in decades,” said Guterres.

“Any use of a nuclear weapon – anytime, anywhere and in any context – would unleash a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,” he noted.

“Nuclear sabers are again being rattled. This is madness. We must reverse course,” he added.

Russia and the United States have by far the largest arsenals, but China’s has been growing quickly. North Korea has also defied the world with its nuclear program and repeated missile tests.