United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says that the two Koreas have made historic, meaningful progress by signing the October 4th inter-Korean joint declaration.

Speaking to the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, Ban said that, if carried out in full, the joint declaration will strengthen and advance peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

He went on to say that, as the U.N. chief, he was ready to give his help and support to establish peace and security in the region.

He also welcomed the recent round of six-party talks in which North Korea pledged to disable all its nuclear facilities by year’s end, adding that the implementation would complete the North’s denuclearization process, which is necessary for peace and security on the peninsula.