1. Director-General for International Organizations Chung Byung-ha, together with Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA) Mohamed Khaled Khiari, held “the 3rd ROK-UN DPPA Policy Dialogue” in the form of videoconference on the evening of January 21, Seoul time.

2. The DPPA is the UN Secretariat’s key department that handles conflict prevention and peacebuilding affairs. During the Policy Dialogue, the two sides extensively discussed matters of mutual interest, including the progress in the DPPA’s main activities, Korea’s contribution and cooperation with the DPPA regarding conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and regional affairs such as Korean Peninsula issues.

° Director-General Chung hoped that as attention and contribution to the “peace continuum” ranging from conflict prevention to peacekeeping and peacebuilding is important in ensuring international peace and security, the DPPA would make more active efforts, including preventive diplomacy and mediation activities. He went on to explain Korea’s contribution to works of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) as well as its contributions to the DPPA Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) and the Peacebuilding Fund.

° The Director-General also shared the Korean government’s efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, asked for the UN Secretariat’s continued attention and cooperation, and exchanged views with the DPPA on situations in Northeast Asia and other conflict regions.

° The DPPA explained the UN Secretariat’s efforts to continue its conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts despite difficulties triggered by COVID-19, extending appreciation to the Korean government for its contribution in the area of peace and security.

° The two sides also attached significance to the fact that they held the 3rd Policy Dialogue in 2021, which marks the 30th anniversary of Korea’s UN membership, and expressed hope to continue stepping up exchanges of views and cooperation for promoting international peace and security.

3. The DPPA is a key security-related department in the UN Secretariat that handles policies on preventive diplomacy and mediation and supports the activities of the Special Representatives and Special Envoys of the UN Secretary-General based on expert analyses of political conditions and conflict situations around the world.  The 3rd ROK-DPPA Policy Dialogue is seen to have served as an opportunity to further consolidate the cooperative relations between the two sides in the area of peace and security.

° The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue reinforcing cooperation with the DPPA as part of its efforts to share policies and build capacity in preparation for Korea’s bid for non-permanent membership of the Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.