Press Briefing
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-Hwan
Oct. 19, 2012 11:00-11:40 KST

Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to see you all.

As already, and extensively, covered by many press reports, the Republic of Korea was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2013-2014 term at the UN headquarters in New York at 02:00 a.m., October 19, Korea Standard Time.

It marks the second time for the ROK to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council since the 1996-1997 term.

To be more specific, the ROK won 149 out of the 192 legal votes. As you may be aware, in order to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, candidate countries must gather a 2/3 support of all the UN member states. The ROK won far more votes than needed for being elected. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the countries that rendered support to us with trust.

In addition, we will continue to develop cooperative ties with those countries that competed with us.

I believe that the latest achievement is attributable to the international community’s recognition of the country’s contribution and role in world peace and security. The ROK’s return to the Security Council will help the government in furthering its vision of “Global Korea”, as it has been stepping up its contribution to the international community commensurate with its enhanced international stature.

To give you a little more details of the government’s efforts to join the UN Security Council, after declaring its candidacy in 2007, it put its entire overseas diplomatic missions into full gear and sent special envoys abroad. I, on my part, met with Foreign Ministers of some 40 countries on the sidelines of the latest UN General Assembly session. Likewise, the President met with leaders of other countries on the sidelines of each and every multilateral summit to request their support for our UN bid.

Now having a seat on the Security Council, the ROK will be able to contribute to assuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and take a leading part in resolving a variety of security issues. And such contributions will likely enhance the ROK’s international standing.

There are some unique advantages or situations that only the ROK seems to have or be subjected to. Based on such unique advantages and experiences, we will play a contributive role,

Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining world peace and security. As such, it is the premier organ to discuss and address issues critical to peace and stability of the world, all sorts of regional and nonproliferation-related issues including the North Korean nuclear weapons development. It also takes measures as necessary.

During its second-term on the Security Council, the ROK intends to take an active part in resolving the issues related to the Korea Peninsula as well as world peace and security. And, it is determined to do so with resolute sense of mission and responsibility, fully respecting the UN Charter and other international norms as well as universal values of humanity.

The ROK, which acceded to the UN 21 years ago in 1991, was elected to the presidency of the General Assembly in 2001. In addition, as you are all aware, Ban Ki-moon is currently serving as UN Secretary-General.

Being mindful of its elevated status in the world, the ROK will do its best to contribute to the international community as its responsible member. Thank you.

[Q&A]

Q:  The Republic of Korea has become a member of the Security Council for 2013-2014. Currently, there are many challenges on the international stage, such as the situation in Syria and North Korea’s nuclear issue. Please tell us where your focus will be, while serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council during the two-year term from 2013 to 2014.

A: You may probably remember this. When North Korea committed provocations, those matters were discussed at the UN Security Council often times. Since the ROK was not a member of the Security Council back then, it had to participate in the discussions through other countries.

However, I believe now that the Security Council membership itself has given us deterrence over North Korea to certain extent. In this way, we will be able to contribute to our regional peace and, furthermore, to international peace as well.

As you have just said, there are various regional issues on the scene at the moment, and the ROK plans to play a more active role in those issues.
The Heads of States or Foreign Ministers of 9 out of 10 non-permanent Security Council member states that will be serving with us visited the ROK this year. As such, we have close relations with the rest of the non-permanent members of the UNSC, and we expect we will be able to play various meaningful roles in the Council. We pledge to make utmost efforts to do so.

Q: This is related to the previous question. We will have to carry out much research and catch up with issues that have been relatively outside our diplomatic focus, such as the conflict between Palestine and Israel, or Syria. Do you think we have enough diplomatic capacity to deal with those issues? What are your ideas on the need for increasing the labor force and providing additional budgetary support for such issues?

One more point. The Republic of Korea will act as the Security Council Chair next February. This is concurrent with the inauguration of a new administration in Korea, and means that global issues will merit heightened attention from the latter. In that aspect, is there any request you would like to make to the presidential candidates or the potential leader of the next administration?

A: The most urgent task in terms of beefing up our diplomatic capacity is to add additional personnel to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN. Just a few days ago at the Korea-Africa Forum held in Seoul, a Foreign Minister of a current non-permanent member state on the Security Council gave similar advice to me. He said that we would need to be well prepared for the increased amount of work, if we get elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. So far, the government has been making preparations in our own ways for joining the Security Council. But just as you have said, we will need to set up annual plans to continuously increase the number of personnel and the budget.

Besides, we will be able to make up for relatively insufficient understanding on certain issues, through close coordination with other non-permanent members and countries that had previously served the position or have more extensive knowledge on such issues.

On your questions asking possible advices for the presidential candidates, once a transition committee is set up to prepare the new administration after the presidential election on December 19, I think there will be enough opportunities to deliver my advices or opinions to the committee.

Q: Please give us your view on whether our Security Council membership will affect Korea’s relations with Japan. Also, there is news that National Assembly members of the National Defense Committee (NDC) will visit Dokdo on October 23, and that Japan is strongly against this visit. Please comment on that.

A: I do not think there will be any change in our relations with Japan, now that we have become a non-permanent member of the Security Council. We have always been saying that we will forge a future-oriented relationship with Japan while we face the future and history squarely. We felt that both countries agreed sufficiently on this point when the two Heads of States met in Vladivostok and during my meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba at the UN. I do not think our Security Council membership will have any special impact on our relations with Japan.

On a separate note, since the NDC’s visit to Dokdo is an issue to be determined at the National Assembly, I do not think I am in a position to comment on that.

Q: Relations with North Korea could be another point of interest. The Security Council has currently adopted a resolution imposing direct sanctions on North Korea, and the ROK will have to discuss this issue as a non-permanent member. Please tell us about your stance on this, and on how the Ministry intends to deal with North Korean relations.

A: I have spoken about this many times here, but we maintain a firm position that we hope to solve any issues with North Korea through dialogue, and we have expressed such view, whenever occasion allows. And as you have just said, there are various sanction mechanisms in the Security Council. However, sanctions do not exist for the sake of sanctions itself. There are certain backgrounds or reasons why those sanctions were imposed. As such, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea to bring it back to the dialogue, and to solve related issues reasonably and peacefully. So I think we should stay in this direction in our dealings with North Korea.

Q: Territorial disputes are getting ever more intense in the East Asian region. The Chinese fishing boat incident could be one indication of such trend. As a member of the Security Council, how will you exercise your rights coming from this new membership or decision-making power, regarding this worsening situation?

A: I believe territorial issues are something to be solved bilaterally, not multilaterally at the UN. So I do not see any change in our position on the territorial issue, just because we have become a non-permanent member on the Security Council.

Q: I would like to ask you two questions. Some point out that there will be limitations on the extent to which the ROK can lead when it comes to Korean Peninsula issues. This is because permanent members such as China and Russia in the Security Council have veto rights. How will you address such challenges as a non-permanent member state? And also, please tell us what North Korea’s response was when South Korea was re-elected to the Security Council.

A: As to your first question, there are various discussions ongoing, regarding the veto rights of the Security Council. However, while that’s the way it is right now and we can’t be free from such reality, both Russia and China need a sound rationale when they exercise their veto rights, and they also need to take into consideration impacts of such action on their national interests.  Thus, I believe that all will depend on how reasonable and sound cause or rationale we could come up with when we lead the Security Council’s discussions. In other words, since these countries do not arbitrarily or reckless exercise those rights without any particular cause, I think we could handle potential difficulties associated with this veto system to certain degree, though perhaps not 100%, if we are armed with sensible causes and logic.

On your second question, North Korea has not expressed any particular position on yesterday’s election result.  As the voting is conducted by secret ballot, we do not know whether and how North Korea voted yesterday.

Q: I would like to ask you a question on the relations with Japan. Currently, Korea’s relations with Japan appear to be in a state of deadlock over the issues of military sexual slavery victims and Dokdo. What do you make of the current situation?

A: As I have reiterated time and again, there can be no compromise over territorial and historical issues. There are only hard facts. As you have to address those issues by drawing upon such historical facts, we have to deal with those issues separately from others. I have reiterated on numerous occasions that Japan and the ROK, as neighboring countries with shared values, are working together in the areas that call for cooperation. As I understand it, the economic cooperation is still well under way. I understand, for instance, that the ROK and Japan have made progress in  their endeavors to enter markets of third countries hand in hand. I believe that such cooperation should continue.

Q: There must be a number of outstanding issues for you to handle. Which one do you plan to address as priority?

A: What issues are you referring to?

Q: I am referring to those to be dealt with at the UN Security Council.

A: Normally, the chair country of the  Security Council set the agenda for the Council.  In this light, when we assume the Security Council chairmanship, we will be able to set the agenda in consultation with other member states.  However, having said that, as we have been just elected as  one member of the Security Council, we  will get to participate in discussion on agenda as set by the chair country. So, it is hard for me to say which agenda topics we will place priority on, right now.

A: Despite the simultaneous accession of the ROK and North Korea to the UN in 1991, the latter ended up being a country sanctioned under relevant Security Council resolutions, while the former became a Security Council member that can play an active role in imposing sanctions. What do you make of such a difference in their positions?

Q: First of all, as I answered a question regarding sanctions earlier, sanctions have not been imposed on North Korea for the sake of sanctions themselves. As I said earlier, there were reasons for imposing sanctions, which means that sanctions were imposed on the country as a means to solve certain issues, and not merely for the sake of sanctions themselves. If sanctions are understood in that light, things could change if North Korea agrees to address its outstanding issues through dialogue with us.

The ROK’s first election to the UN Security Council carried great significance in that it had taken us only five years to become a Security Council member after our accession to the UN. Compared to its situation 15 years ago, the ROK plays a bigger role in international activities and has seen a commensurate economic growth. So, we seem better prepared than then to play a bigger role in the international community with a strong sense of responsibility.

Q: According to some press reports, due to the chilled relations between the ROK and Japan over the issue of military sexual slavery victims ahead of the Security Council election, Japan could withdraw its support for the ROK’s UN bid. Do you think that the recent row between the countries indeed affected the election?

Also, the ROK has stressed that the issue of military sexual slavery victims is a human rights issue separate from other bilateral ones. What do you think in terms of the possibility of this issue being put up for discussion at the Security Council?

A: As I told you earlier, as the voting is conducted by secret ballot, there is no way to tell whether or not Japan supported us. However, even though there were some press reports that Japan would not support the ROK for the aforementioned reason, I believe that the ROK-Japan relations have at the least surpassed such a level. I also never want to believe that Japan would act in that manner. I do not deem that the Japanese even considered that option to start with and ended up doing that.

By the way, I personally prefer the expression “sexual slaves drafted for the Japanese military” to “comfort women.” I discussed this issue as one concerning women’s rights during wartime in my keynote speech delivered at the latest UN General Assembly session. It was also brought up in the UN Third Committee meetings. This issue is not always on the agenda of the Security Council. But there will be plenty opportunities for this issue to be raised at the UN other than meetings of the Security Council. We will bring it up whenever there is an opportunity.

Q: The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was launched as an official international organization yesterday. Do you expect the UN Security Council membership of the ROK to generate synergetic effect in the areas of environment and public health?

Secondly, to what extent do you want the Security Council to focus on North Korea’s human rights issue?

A: Although the Security Council has not addressed them of late, there were extensive discussions on environment and climate change in the international community. In that vein, the GGGI is expected to play a big part in such discussions.

The GGGI was launched as a full-fledged international organization with 18 member countries, pursuant to the Agreement on its Establishment calling for the GGGI to be launched as such after the deposition of the ratification instrument by three of its signatory countries. Through the GGGI, the ROK is expected to play an important role in addressing the climate change issue, and promoting a green growth paradigm and renewable energy policy with developing countries. The membership of the ROK in the Security Council will likely be conducive to such endeavors of the country.

On your second question, the election of the ROK to the Security Council signifies the international community’s recognition of the willingness of the country to contribute to the community. As such, it will likely generate synergetic effect. Not many human rights issues were directly dealt with at the Security Council. Yet, as those issues that are directly linked to international security are to be addressed at the Security Council, we will first see how things play out at the Council and then decide whether or/and how to discuss them at the Security Council?

Q: A number of countries took issue with the system of the UN Security Council in the past, right? For example, many of them raised the need to   increase the number of the Security Council member states, or to reduce the rights granted to the current permanent members, such as veto rights.

Does the ROK, as a Security Council member, plan to follow suit of those countries? If the country becomes a chair country, does it plan to take this up as an agenda topic?

A: With regard to the issue of Security Council reform, as you have just mentioned, I personally believe that the system of the UN Security Council fails to fully reflect the current global situation. In that sense, I am of opinion that relevant member states should review this issue and make a decision on it. However, the issue of Security Council reform is usually dealt with at the General Assembly, not at the Security Council itself. The ROK belongs to the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group that discusses ways to reform the Security Council. I, on my part, met with the Foreign Ministers of 11 UFC member states on the sidelines of the latest UN General Assembly session. We will continue discussing this issue with other like-minded countries.

Q: I have a question on a pending issue. To my knowledge, Chinese Ambassador to the ROK Zhang Xinsen visited the Foreign Ministry today to meet with the First Vice Minister. Please clarify the ROK government’s position on the issue of death of a Chinese fisherman. Also, Liu, who threw a firebomb at the Japanese Embassy in the ROK, will be released from prison early next month. The Japanese government is requesting his extradition. What decision, if any, has been made in this regard?

A: With regard to the Chinese fishing boat, I deem it regrettable that a Chinese fisherman was killed amid law enforcement. Nevertheless, before jumping to any judgment on this accident, we must first understand that the boat in question engaged in illegal fishing operations, and this accident occurred amid the vehement resistance against the law enforcement on illegal fishing practices. The ROK government is currently conducting a fair and thorough investigation into this event. Upon its completion, the government will handle the case accordingly, and consult closely with its Chinese counterpart on the issue.

Let me just say that I find it deeply regrettable that this accident happened while the two countries were working together to curtail illegal fishing. 

As for Mr. Liu, his judicial procedure has yet to be completed, with a review currently under way. We will decide on this by taking into account various factors, such as domestic and international laws and the humanitarian aspect.

* unofficial translation