1. The “Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security” at the UN, which was launched on May 12 at the initiative of the Republic of Korea in order for the UN to respond to health security issues, such as COVID-19, held ambassador- and working-level video conferences of the Group back to back on the morning of June 25, New York time, and discussed health and security issues as well as the Group’s activity plan for the year 2020.

° The Group, the first group of friends on COVID-19 launched at the UN after the spread of COVID-19, is seen as a platform that will promote UN discussions on health security issues, including COVID-19.

2. In the ambassadorial meeting, which followed the Group’s first meeting, the participants agreed to deliver its joint remarks as its first official activity at the Security Council High-level Open Debate on “Pandemics and Security” on July 2.

° The ambassadors of the Group’s member states coordinated in advance the message to be conveyed in the joint remarks -- the message underscoring the need to step up international cooperation and solidarity in responding to COVID-19, which poses a grave threat to not only health but also international peace and safety.

° At the meeting, the President of the Security Council for July and member of the Group, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the UN Christoph Heusgen, explained in advance details regarding the Security Council Open Debate. On behalf of the UN Secretariat, Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions of the Department of Peace Operations, had an in-depth discussion on the relationship between infectious diseases and security with the ambassadors of the Group’s member states.

° In particular, amid COVID-19 and the resulting health crisis posing a serious challenge to international peace and safety, the delivery of the message is expected to contribute to raising the awareness on the need for the UN Security Council’s active and prompt response.

3. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Group’s working-level officials was held just before the ambassadorial meeting and covered the Group’s activity plan for the second half of this year, including sending a letter to the UN Secretary-General and holding a high-level event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September.

° The member states of the Group agreed to actively seek to send a letter signed by the Group’s co-chairs to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to introduce the purpose of its launch and activity plan and to ask for active cooperation of the UN Secretariat.

° The member states also agreed to explore ways to hold a high-level event regarding health and security on the sidelines of the High-level session of the UN General Assembly in September.

4. As the country that proposed creating the Group and serving as its co-chair, the ROK government, through its activities in the Group, plans to continue leading the solidarity and cooperation at the UN in a bid to resolve various challenges in international health security.