U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday vowed to pursue further strategic arms reductions
with Russia as part of his broader nuclear disarmament agenda even as he issued stern
warnings to North Korea and Iran in their nuclear standoffs with the West.
Speaking
ahead of a global nuclear security summit in Seoul, Obama implored North Korea’s leaders
“to have the courage to pursue peace” while warning of the wrath of the world if they
don't. Failure, he said, would mean a future without dignity, respect or hope for
its people.
Obama also reiterated his warning to Iran, which the U.S. and its
allies contend is defying its international obligations by pursuing an illicit nuclear
program. Obama said he would discuss Iran in meetings later in the day with the leaders
of Russia and China.
In his speech, Obama held out the prospect of new cuts
in the U.S. nuclear arsenal as he sought to rally world leaders for additional concrete
steps against the threat of nuclear terrorism.