H.E. Ambassador CHO Hyun

Permanent Representative

Security Council Open Debate on “Upholding the United Nations Charter to Maintain International Peace and Security”

9 January 2020

New York

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to express our deep condolences on the tragic accident of the Ukraine airplane crash.

Mr. President,

I commend your initiative to convene today’s open debate on this timely and important topic. I take this opportunity to thank Secretary-General Guterres, and Ms. Mary Robinson for their enlightening briefings.

Mr. President,

75 years ago, the founders of the United Nations came together to sign the UN Charter which enshrines the strong collective commitment to save future generations from the scourge of war, protect human rights and dignity, respect international law, and promote social progress and better standards of life.

The Republic of Korea is a country whose very existence is a living testament to the relevance of the UN Charter. It was the UN that helped Korea overcome the horrors of war. Had it not been for the help of the UN in post-war reconstruction, the Republic of Korea as it stands today would not exist.

At the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, President Moon Jae-in declared the three principles of peace on the Korean Peninsula: zero tolerance for war, a mutual security guarantee, and co-prosperity. Based on these guiding principles, he proposed transforming the DMZ across the midriff of the Korean Peninsula into an international peace zone.

As we continue our journey toward establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, we hope to receive the vital support of the international community through concerted action and unity.

Mr. President,

Despite the significant achievements made over the last 75 years, the UN Charter still faces daunting challenges. Protracted armed conflicts, large scale human rights abuses, and complex transnational issues such as terrorism and human trafficking are just a few of the challenges we face today. Amid the slow progress of the international community on such issues, multilateralism and the UN are being viewed with increasing skepticism.

In this difficult context, we need to once again renew our overarching commitment to international cooperation and the principles of the UN Charter, because all of the challenges that we face today are global ones that call for global solutions.

How can we enhance our collective efforts to this end?

First, we need the Security Council to play a central role in exemplifying the value of international cooperation and bringing the UN Charter to life. The Charter bestows upon the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and the Council must do more to overcome divisions, embrace the prevention and peacebuilding agendas, and make greater use of mediation and other tools set out in Chapter 6 of the Charter. It is also vital to realize a consensual reform of the Council to ensure that the Council becomes more democratic, transparent, inclusive, effective, and with “equitable geographical distribution,” as contained in Article 23 of the Charter.

Second, we need to strengthen coordination within the UN system, to address international peace and security issues. The UN is the only organization with both the legitimacy and capacity to bring the knowledge and resources of the international community together to tackle global challenges. In order to enhance the effectiveness of this Organization, we must break down silos between the main organs, continue to pursue reform under the leadership of the Secretary-General, and foster mutually reinforcing and coordinated efforts among the main organs.

Carrying a sense of responsibility commensurate with the progress it has made, Korea is ready to do its part. It strongly supports the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative led by the Secretary-General. The initiative enjoys wide support because its key goal is to bring together all partners and stakeholders in supporting UN Peacekeeping Operations, and we believe it will contribute to a more effective implementation of the Charter. In support of this goal, we look forward to hosting the next Peacekeeping Ministerial in Korea next year.

Mr. President,

In Article 55 of the Charter, the UN resolved to “promote higher standards of living” and “conditions of economic and social progress and development.” Today, one of the biggest challenges in realizing this goal is our deepening climate crisis. To strengthen global solidarity for implementation of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, Korea will host the 2^nd round of the P4G Summit: Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 later this year.             

Mr. President,

As we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the UN Charter, we greatly look forward to its reinforcement and full implementation. The Republic of Korea reaffirms its strong commitment to play its part in realizing the goals of peace, human rights, and sustainable development, as envisioned by the founders of this Organization.

Thank you. /END/