ROK-UN Relations

Korea's Participation in the UN Activities

• International Peace and Security

  The membership of the ROK to the Security Council in 1996-1997 has provided us with a renewed motivation to take on a more proactive role for the promotion of international peace and security. During its membership, the ROK focused on upgrading the Council's transparency, protecting humanitarian assistance to refugees and others, and enhancing the Council's capacity for resolving regional conflicts. During its presidency, the ROK initiated an open debate on the protection for humanitarian assistance to refugees and others in conflict situations, adopted four resolutions(1170-1110), and issued eight presidential statements(S/PRST/1997/25-32).
  
  The Republic of Korea was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2013-2014 term at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly on October 18, 2012. Serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Secirity Council for the 2013-2014 term, the Republic of Korea will make every effort to contribute in meaningful ways to the maintenance of internaional peace and security.

• Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues

  The Republic of Korea has actively participated in international disarmament and non-proliferation efforts and multilateral export control. The Korean government has acceded and faithfully complied with all major international instruments, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty(NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC), the Biological Weapons Convention(BWC) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT). The Korean government is of the view that the international community should continue to make efforts to develop appropriate responses to ensure universal adherence to and full compliance with all agreements related to eliminating weapons of mass destruction in a more vigorous and comprehensive manner.

• Development

  The Republic of Korea is fully committed to the development cooperation through bilateral and multilateral channels. In particular, Korea has steadily increased the total amount of Official Development Assistance(ODA) and will increase it to 0.1% of the GNP by 2005.

• Human Rights

  The Republic of Korea believes that international cooperation for the promotion of human rights and democracy should be strengthened. It has already ratified the core international human rights conventions and has signed newly established human rights instruments. Major human rights instruments that were signed or ratified by the ROK are as follows:

  • The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  • The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  • The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
  • The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
  • The Convention on the Rights of the Child and Two Optional Protocols
  • The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
  • The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities