Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on the 25th (local time) pointed out the arms transactions between North Korea and Russia on the international stage and urged the restoration of the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) functions.
Minister Cho attended an open debate of the Security Council during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly and stated, "The recent developments in international conflicts have exposed the limitations of the Security Council in effectively resolving issues."
Minister Cho cited the arms trade between North Korea and Russia as a major example of the Security Council's failure. He urged, "Russia and North Korea must comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions that have been adopted unanimously in this chamber."
Furthermore, Minister Cho emphasized, "Many humanitarian challenges today, from poverty to refugee crises and resource allocation, are interconnected with security and development issues," adding, "The Security Council must first strive to address the root causes of conflicts." He stressed, "To resolve the root causes, an integrated and consistent approach linking humanitarian aid and development with peace and security is necessary."
He also highlighted the role of non-permanent members within the Security Council.
Minister Cho said, "Elected members can facilitate dialogue and serve as a bridge among permanent members by bringing diverse perspectives and viewpoints to the table."
South Korea holds the position that the Security Council should be reformed in the direction of expanding the number of non-permanent members.
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