On the 2nd (local time) in front of the Security Council meeting room at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. In addition to the Taegeukgi, the flags of Slovenia, Algeria, Guyana, and Sierra Leone appeared. On this day, a ceremony was held to raise the flags of the new non-permanent (elected) members of the Security Council in front of the conference hall during their two-year term.
As a member of the Security Council starting from the 1st of this year, Korea will speak out on major issues in the midst of geopolitical conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukrania war, the Israel-Hamas war, the outbreak of Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the expansion of North Korea’s provocations. In particular, its role has grown, including as chair of the Yemen Sanctions Committee under the Security Council.
Ambassador to the United Nations Hwang Joon-guk met with New York correspondents after the flag-raising ceremony and announced that he would actively arouse international public opinion on the North Korean issue, including by requesting that an emergency meeting be convened if necessary. Ambassador Hwang said, “This morning, we began our activities with a private breakfast meeting of the ambassadors of the 15 Security Council members for the first time of the new year. He said, “Although the North Korean issue was not included in the official Security Council meeting schedule in January, I shared with the members that North Korea’s New Year’s address was unusual.” He went on to say, “Considering the seriousness of the matter, we said we would request an emergency meeting of the Security Council if necessary, such as a North Korean provocation, and France, the chair country, and the United States and Japan, the member countries, expressed their willingness to actively agree.”
On December 30 of last year, North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean relations as ‘a relationship of belligerents at war’, and a day later, on the 31st, he threatened that “it is an established fact that an armed conflict may occur at any time due to the enemy’s reckless provocative moves.” By raising the level of remarks, the Security Council means that it will inform the international community of the seriousness of the issue.
View largerThe scene of the flag-raising ceremony for the new members of the Security Council held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the 2nd (local time). Ambassador to the United Nations Hwang Jun-guk (center) stands between the ambassadors of Sierra Leone and Guyana. New York = Ambassador Hwang also said, “Mannerism on the North Korean issue is growing within the Security Council. “Some countries are listening to China and Russia’s claim that ‘South Korea, the United States, and Japan’s military exercises are causing North Korea’s provocations,’” he said. “Although North Korea’s message and provocations seem similar, the threat is increasing as the level continues to rise.” “We will actively inform the international community,” he said.
Previously, in June last year, Korea was elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2024-2025 with 180 votes out of 192 member countries. It has been 11 years since Korea re-entered the Security Council in 1996-1997 and 2013-2014.
The Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining world peace and security and is the only body within the United Nations that makes decisions with binding international law on UN member states. It consists of 5 permanent members (USA, China, Russia, UK, France) and 10 non-permanent members (2-year term).
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.