Jin Park Meets UN Secretary-General: "A Global Hub Nation... Strengthening Cooperation with the UN"

Minister Park Jin: "Clear Message Needed That North Korea's Nuclear Development Will Not Be Tolerated"
Urges UN Support to Derive Effective North Korea Nuclear Response Measures
Secretary-General Guterres: "Very Impressed by Commitment to Korean Peninsula Denuclearization," Promises Full Support

Ant?nio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, are shaking hands before their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government Seoul Office, on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 12th, Foreign Minister Park Jin met with United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and stated, "We will strengthen cooperation with the UN to advance as a global pivotal country."

In his opening remarks during the meeting with Secretary-General Guterres, Minister Park said, "As I have already mentioned, Korea will enhance cooperation and partnership with the UN to become a global pivotal country contributing to freedom, peace, and prosperity." He expressed Korea's intention to take a more active role in upholding the fundamental values of the UN Charter.

He continued, "President Yoon will announce his views on North Korea through a 'Bold Plan' in his Liberation Day speech next Monday," adding, "This is to encourage North Korea to make a better decision toward denuclearization and to return to the dialogue table instead of confrontation and provocations." The Bold Plan refers to a roadmap for inter-Korean policy that includes phased economic cooperation and security guarantees for North Korea in exchange for implementing denuclearization measures.

Minister Park emphasized the need for the UN and the international community to send a clear message that North Korea's nuclear development will not be tolerated. He also requested the UN's continued support to derive effective countermeasures against North Korea's nuclear threat.

Secretary-General Guterres responded, "We welcome all efforts to initiate dialogue aimed at denuclearization," pledging full support from the UN. He said, "I was very impressed by Korea's strong commitment to non-proliferation and the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." He emphasized the importance of international cooperation in areas such as climate change, humanitarian aid, and international peace and security, urging Korea to continue contributing to the protection and development of multilateralism.

Secretary-General Guterres, who arrived in Korea the previous day, will depart after completing his one-night, two-day visit.