UN Ambassador on Security Council Membership: "Opportunity to Broaden Diplomatic Horizons... Actively Discussing North Korea Issues"

"The activities of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent members serve as an important diplomatic stage to realize the vision of a 'global pivotal state.' We aim to broadly contribute to international peace and security while expanding our diplomatic horizons."

On the 15th (local time), Ambassador Hwang Jun-guk, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN, met with New York correspondents at the Korean Mission to the UN located in Manhattan, New York, and expressed his strong commitment to the upcoming UNSC non-permanent membership activities starting in January next year. Having been elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2024?2025 term, Korea has been observing all UNSC meetings, including closed sessions and consultations on draft resolutions and presidential statements, since October as a provisional member.

Leading Korea’s third term as a UNSC member, Ambassador Hwang stated, "The global situation has changed significantly with the US-China strategic competition and conflicts between the West and Russia, and we must operate amid 'global complex crises' such as climate change, energy, and food security," adding, "Above all, the international standing of the Republic of Korea has changed considerably."

He emphasized, "Within the UN, Korea ranks 9th among 193 member states in financial contributions and is among the top 10 countries in terms of comprehensive national power and international status," pledging to contribute to the UN’s goals of maintaining international peace and security through active engagement. Through this, we are determined to realize the vision of becoming a global pivotal state and to expand diplomatic horizons with various countries. The global pivotal state is a national goal of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to establish Korea as a country contributing to global freedom, peace, and prosperity.

Ambassador Hwang said, "(As a UNSC member) our primary focus is on the North Korean nuclear issue and human rights," and explained, "In addition, we will consider how we can contribute to areas pledged during the non-permanent membership election, such as ▲cybersecurity ▲climate security ▲peacekeeping operations (PKO) ▲women, peace, and security (WPS)." Korea previously served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 1996?1997 and 2013?2014.

On this day, Ambassador Hwang also highlighted the significance of the North Korean human rights resolution passed by consensus without a vote in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. This year’s resolution notably added provisions based on the Convention Against Torture, to which 173 countries including China are parties, concerning the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors, and included language about North Korea generating funds for nuclear weapons development through forced labor. It also reflected the reality of North Korea strengthening internal control and included detainees and prisoners of war in the abduction-related paragraphs.

Korea participated as a co-sponsor in this year’s resolution led by European Union (EU) member states and was actively involved in the drafting process. Ambassador Hwang explained, "By adding the Convention Against Torture as a basis, it became difficult to argue that defectors are not refugees and thus not subject to non-refoulement. The Convention prohibits repatriation if there is a risk of torture," and added, "The resolution also explicitly linked the North Korean human rights issue with the nuclear issue as two sides of the same coin." He further stated, "Starting next year, as a UNSC non-permanent member, we will actively discuss and raise the North Korean human rights issue and strive to improve the situation even slightly."

Regarding North Korea’s nuclear missile provocations, he said, "We have urged UNSC action as a concerned party and worked to refute the incorrect claims of China and Russia, who defend North Korea, and to correct the facts," adding, "Once we become a UNSC member next year, we will strengthen cooperation with member states centered on Korea, the US, and Japan." He also noted, "We are closely monitoring North Korea’s military cooperation, including illegal arms transactions with Russia," and stated, "Arms trade with North Korea is a clear violation of UNSC resolutions. We will work to ensure thorough implementation of UNSC resolutions by the international community."