[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs visiting the United States, met with UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 1st (local time) and stated that the international community must send a consistent message in response to North Korea's ongoing provocations.
During the meeting with Secretary-General Guterres, Minister Park discussed major issues including the regional situation on the Korean Peninsula and climate change. He appreciated Secretary-General Guterres' public call for North Korea to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons development and return to dialogue, and urged the thorough implementation of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea and the UN's continued role in strengthening international cooperation.
In response, Secretary-General Guterres expressed serious concern that North Korea's nuclear tests would deliver a "devastating blow" to regional and global peace. He added, “I support the efforts of the Korean government to achieve sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Minister Park also promised to expand contributions to UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities, stating, "Our country, as a responsible member of the international community, will fulfill its responsibilities together with the UN to protect and expand the freedoms of global citizens, as well as peace and prosperity." In particular, he mentioned that Korea is increasing its contributions to the UN in various fields such as digital technology and data sharing, climate change, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, and explained the direction of activities for Korea’s 2024-25 term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
On the same day, before the meeting with Secretary-General Guterres, Minister Park also held a luncheon meeting with ambassadors of the Security Council member states regarding the Korean Peninsula issue. At the meeting attended by most of the 15 member state ambassadors, Minister Park exchanged views on North Korea’s missile provocations and nuclear threats and urged a strong response. In the evening, he attended a reception held at the Korean Permanent Mission to the UN for Korea’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2024-2025.
Afterwards, Minister Park moved to Washington and is scheduled to attend the Korea-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the 3rd. He told reporters that the Korea-US summit has not yet been decided but "Since it is the 70th anniversary of the alliance, we expect meaningful and historic events to take place."
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