South Korea, 1993

May I congratulate

Ambassador Insanally of Guyana on his assumption of the

presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-eighth

session. I also wish to acknowledge the excellent work done

by His Excellency Ambassador Stoyan Ganev of Bulgaria as

President of the last session of the General Assembly.

I also pay tribute to the Secretary-General,

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his dedication to the cause

of the United Nations and to its reform at this important

juncture.

Allow me to take this opportunity to express my

warmest welcome to the new Member States - Andorra, the

Czech Republic, Eritrea, the former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia, Monaco and the Slovak Republic. My

delegation wishes them every success and looks forward to

working closely with them in all areas.

We live in an age of historic transition. This is

confirmed by the dramatic changes in the international

situation since the last session. A new world order, which

is fundamentally different from the old one, is taking shape.

We are witnessing a trend towards peace, cooperation and

interdependence, instead of conflict, confrontation and

ideological bigotry. The most resounding testimony to this

effect emerged in the peace accord between Israel and the

Palestine Liberation Organization signed in Washington this

month.

Today we find ourselves in an international

environment that was only a vision to the founding fathers

of the United Nations. I should like to quote from the

remarks of Mr. Oswaldo Aranha, a distinguished diplomat

from Brazil, who was the President of the General Assembly

in 1947. He said:

"All idea of force is today obsolete and negative. The

old order, based on political power, is trying to survive,

but there is no longer room for predominance through

force. The United Nations stands for the new order,

based on peaceful accord, on understanding, on free

discussion ... and on the common and equal

responsibility of peoples." (Official Records of the

General Assembly, Second Session, Plenary Meeting,"

128th meeting, p. 1442)

Forty-five years after these words were spoken, we

finally stand at the end of one era and on the threshold of a

new one. This may be a second, and perhaps the last,

opportunity for us to fulfil the stated mission of the United

Nations at its creation.

To be sure, the end of the cold war does not mean the

end of all problems. The world worries about the continuing

and even worsening ethnic and religious conflicts. We face

the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction. Environmental protection is another major

challenge to today’s world. Development cannot be taken

for granted. These are monumental issues that require the

collective efforts of all members of the international

community, and of the United Nations in particular.

We have entered an age of diversity and uncertainty,

but we should not be daunted by this new reality. We may

not be accustomed to it, but we should not be afraid of

living in a pluralistic world. Nations differ in what they

want to achieve and in how they want to achieve it. These

diverse goals, while constituting a possible source of

conflict, should also form the basis for complementarity and

cooperation among nations.

Some say that bipolarity is being replaced by

multipolarity. Yet "pluralistic", rather than "multipolar", is

perhaps more precise a term to describe the emerging world

order. A multipolar world would postulate geopolitics based

upon conflict and balance of power. A pluralistic world, on

the other hand, accepts diversity and encourages cooperation.

Thus, the world has the potential to become more democratic

and harmonious than it has ever been in history.

One of the most noteworthy changes in the aftermath

of the cold war is the strengthening of the United Nations,

particularly in the field of peace and security. The "Agenda

for Peace" report that Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali

submitted last year provides a solid base on which to

augment the role of the United Nations in this area.

Forty-eighth session - 29 September l993 35

Preventive diplomacy, in particular, is of the utmost

importance, given the enormous human and material costs of

conflicts once they break out. My delegation will continue

its participation in the efforts to translate into a meaningful

reality such initiatives as "preventive diplomacy" and

"post-conflict peace-building".

As the continuing tragedies in Bosnia and Somalia

demonstrate, conflicts fuelled by ethnic and religious

differences, poverty and internal disorder are becoming a

new and major threat to international security. In response

to increasing demands, 17 United Nations peace-keeping

operations are active in different parts of the world.

However, traditional peace-keeping may no longer be

a sufficient response to current conflicts. We find that the

scope of these operations is widening, ranging from the

supervision of a cease-fire to nation-building. Furthermore,

the timely deployment of peace-keepers is imperative to

temper a conflict at an early stage.

For this reason, we believe that the proposed

mechanism of United Nations stand-by forces is an

appropriate way to enhance the Organization’s role in

meeting new challenges to peace. The availability of

stand-by forces will enable the United Nations to provide a

quick and effective response to conflicts.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm my Government’s

support of the United Nations Operation in Somalia

(UNOSOM II). We dispatched an engineering battalion in

June, and we urge all the factions concerned in Somalia to

cooperate fully with the United Nations. Given the

successful precedent set by the United Nations Transitional

Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), I am confident that

UNOSOM II will also fulfill its peacekeeping mission.

None the less, it is a source of grave concern that the

number of United Nations casualties in Somalia is sharply

increasing. Effective arrangements need to be worked out to

enhance the safety and security of those who are involved in

the United Nations peace-keeping operations there and

everywhere else.

In the domain of peace and security, preventing the

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, both nuclear

and biochemical, is another critical task.

The Republic of Korea strongly supports the efforts to

stop nuclear-weapons proliferation beyond 1995 through the

extension of the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). We

also support the strengthening of International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards as the central device for

ensuring the effectiveness of the NPT.

At the same time, consistent with the spirit and

objective of the NPT, we urge the existing nuclear Powers

not only to accelerate their efforts to reduce their nuclear

arsenal but also actively to join the efforts for a

comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty. That will encourage

non-nuclear countries to adhere and agree to an indefinite

extension of the NPT régime. My delegation welcomes the

commitment of nuclear-weapon States to a continuing

moratorium on nuclear testing.

With regard to chemical and biological weapons, the

conclusion of the chemical weapons Convention in January

was a big step forward. We urge those States that have not

yet joined the Convention to do so as early as possible. The

Convention, together with the biological weapons

Convention, will serve as a major instrument in preventing

proliferation of biochemical weapons.

With the ending of the cold war, disarmament has

moved into the realm of real possibility. Over the past few

years disarmament has gained momentum with agreements

on nuclear-arms reduction and cut-backs in conventional

forces. We have to keep this momentum alive. In the light

of these developments, the October 1992 report of the

Secretary-General on "New dimensions of arms regulation

and disarmament in the post-cold war era" has offered timely

and useful guidelines for disarmament.

At the same time, we should take note of the ongoing

reassessment of multilateral disarmament machinery. The

Conference on Disarmament is particularly important as the

single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. In my

delegation’s view, the Conference on Disarmament should be

appropriately expanded in membership to reflect the changed

international environment.

In addition, the United Nations Register of

Conventional Arms that was launched with the participation

of more than 70 Member States should be implemented on

a universal basis as soon as possible.

As I discuss the issue of disarmament, I need to draw

attention to the Korean peninsula. Despite the worldwide

trends towards peace and cooperation, there is still tension

in Korea.

My Government believes that the solution to the inter-

Korean question should be sought in the context of the post--

cold-war international order of reconciliation and

36 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

cooperation. This means active participation by both North

and South Korea in the regional and global order.

We are particularly concerned with the North Korean

nuclear programme. North Korea should cooperate in

removing any suspicions surrounding it by honouring its

non-proliferation obligations under the NPT.

In conformity with the Security Council resolution

825 (1993), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must

comply with its safeguards agreement with IAEA. At the

same time, we urge the Democratic People’s Republic of

Korea to cooperate with us in implementing the 1991

inter-Korean Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the

Korean Peninsula.

My delegation is also deeply concerned about the safety

of North Korean nuclear power reactors. The International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the countries concerned

should pay special attention to the safety issue as well as to

the non-proliferation question in relation to the North Korean

nuclear program.

There are several urgent issues of a non-military nature

whose solution requires a global approach. Development

and trade, environment, and human rights are some of them.

The post-cold war international environment both

requires and enables us to place greater emphasis on

economic and social development. We should now devote

the peace dividend to development efforts. Given the high

degree of interdependence in today’s world, no country is

immune from the consequences of economic difficulties in

other countries. Poverty, population problems and

environmental degradation have become a common threat to

the well-being of mankind. These non-military crises are

now the issues to be addressed with a sense of urgency and

collective endeavour by all nations.

The role of the United Nations in this area should be

strengthened. I welcome the recent initiatives to restructure

and revitalize the United Nations system in the economic

and social field. The structure of the system should be

streamlined for effective mobilization of limited resources.

Meanwhile, I believe a substantial increase in development

resources is necessary to support developmental cooperation.

Developed countries are encouraged to enhance their efforts

in this area.

To achieve a more prosperous world, we need to

strengthen the global free trade regime. The regime of the

General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) was created

shortly after the founding of the United Nations. The

underlying philosophy was clear: peace and security can

best be guaranteed if buttressed by economic prosperity.

During the cold-war period, this global free trade regime

exceeded early expectations by bringing wealth and

prosperity to those who embraced it. Now that the cold war

is over, the whole world can more fully benefit from it.

Our choice is clear. We must strengthen the free trade

system, by ensuring a successful conclusion of the Uruguay

Round.

Economic development is closely linked with the

environment issue. It was at the Rio Summit last year that

the world was keenly awakened to this critical issue. The

Summit emphatically stressed the importance of global

partnership to achieve environmentally sound and sustainable

development towards the twenty-first century.

When we deal with environmental problems, it is

important to strike a balance between the North and the

South. The former focuses on the primacy of environmental

protection while the latter emphasizes the development

imperatives. We believe that the Commission on Sustainable

Development is a very appropriate forum for seeking such

a balance and coordinating the implementation of the results

of the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development.

As a member of the Commission on Sustainable

Development, the Republic of Korea is ready to do its part

in contributing to global action. We hope to help bridge the

divergences between the developed and the developing

countries. We are now in the process of joining the

Framework Convention on Climate Change and other

environmental agreements.

The human rights issue is receiving growing attention

on the international level. This may be a natural

phenomenon as the emerging pluralistic world society

facilitates the promotion of democracy all over the world.

At the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna

in June, I had the privilege to report to the forum that human

rights have finally come of age in Korea. I also pledged our

firm support for the international movements to promote

human rights.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action are

the most significant results of the Conference. We must take

the necessary follow-up measures. In five years we will

commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. I hope that our

Forty-eighth session - 29 September l993 37

generation will be able to meet the expectation set by those

who produced this Declaration.

As we pay due attention to the human rights issue, we

should also concern ourselves with the question of refugees

and disadvantaged groups. Armed conflicts and natural

disasters around the world raise the need for humanitarian

assistance and protection of refugees and displaced persons.

The Republic of Korea’s recent accession to the Convention

relating to the status of refugees testifies to its commitment

to this cause.

I attach special significance to the World Summit for

Social Development which will take place in 1995 in

Copenhagen. I hope that effective programmes of action

will be put forward at this Conference to tackle major

impediments to social development.

As the United Nations faces new opportunities and

challenges, it also needs reforms in order to cope with them

better. This is indeed a tall order.

We believe that, with the enormous increase in the

general membership of the United Nations, it has become

necessary to enlarge the Security Council. The question is

how to enlarge the Council without sacrificing its

effectiveness. The creation of a third category, with long-

term membership but without the power of veto, coupled

with the expansion of the non-permanent membership, may

be an answer.

Concerning the General Assembly, the simplification of

the committee structure, through the merger of the Fourth

Committee and the Special Political Committee, will

undoubtedly enhance its efficiency. The rationalization of

the agenda may be another measure to help enhance the

capability of the General Assembly.

My delegation also welcomes the Secretary-General’s

measures to reform the Secretariat and supports him in this

complex task. In particular, the recent establishment of the

Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Inspections and

Investigations is an initial step towards increasing the

accountability of the Secretariat.

I note with concern the report of the Secretary-General

that refers to the financial status of the United Nations. We

fully agree with him that in order to enable this Organization

to meet the demands of its time, the resources provided

should match its political will. My delegation is in favor of

constructive discussions during the current session which

would explore ways and means of alleviating the current

financial difficulties of the United Nations.

I believe the reform should be based on a proper

understanding of the changed world situation. It should also

conform with the purposes and principles of the United

Nations. I hope this process will lead to an efficient and

productive United Nations that is truly capable of fulfilling

the aspirations of mankind by the year 1995, the world

body’s fiftieth anniversary.

Given the vital role that the United Nations has played

in the Republic of Korea, we will observe this occasion with

particular dedication. A national committee will be formed

and activities will be coordinated with the Secretariat, with

special emphasis on conveying the message of the United

Nations to Korea’s next generation.

In the Republic of Korea, the new Government has

launched a reorientation of foreign policy. Our new

diplomacy places emphasis on universal values - peace,

democracy, liberty, welfare and human rights. Globalism is

at the core of the new diplomacy.

Korea is pursuing a more active role in tackling global

issues such as international peace and security, disarmament,

the eradication of poverty, protection of the environment and

efficient utilization of natural resources. It is through such

engagement in global affairs that Korea seeks to play its due

part in the activities of the United Nations designed to make

the world a safer, more just and more prosperous place.

The Republic of Korea is now participating in the

United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II). It is

also serving a three-year term on the Economic and Social

Council. We shall actively seek ways to increase our

contribution to international organizations, especially those

within the framework of the United Nations.

In this regard, the Republic of Korea hopes to better

contribute to the maintenance of international peace and

security by having an opportunity to serve on the Security

Council. We hope to receive the encouragement and support

of the world community in these efforts.

Democratization, and harmony between nations, are the

most important trends of the new world order. By drawing

upon them, we have the opportunity to make the future more

peaceful and secure than ever before in the history of

mankind. Our success or failure will depend upon our

understanding of the nature of the new order and our ability

to build on it.

38 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

To be sure, there are dangers also. We failed with the

League of Nations. We often experienced bitter frustration

during the cold war period. Yet, we are on the threshold of

a new beginning. We need to look forward, because the

future is in our hands. We have to prove to ourselves that

we are equal to the task.