South Korea, 1994

May I

congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the

presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-ninth

session. I am convinced that your vast experience and

your leadership will contribute greatly to the success of

the session. At the same time, I wish to acknowledge the

excellent work of your predecessor, Ambassador Samuel

R. Insanally of Guyana, during the last session of the

General Assembly.

I should like also to pay tribute to the

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his

dedication to the cause of the United Nations.

The evolution of the world scene since the last

session confirms that we live in an age of historic

transition. The encouraging developments in South Africa

and in the Middle East confirm that conventional

paradigms of the international system are changing.

Nations have become so interdependent that force can no

longer act as the final arbiter. In relations between

nations, rules, agreements and civilized norms have come

into play as much as traditional regulators.

Until the modern era we lived in what might be

called a Hobbesian world, where conflict, rather than

cooperation, was the defining characteristic of relations

between nations. Basically, international relations were

regulated through the mechanism of the balance of power.

Sometimes we had the hegemony of one Power, and

sometimes several Powers acting in concert, but these

were only variations of what was essentially a struggle for

power, a struggle for domination.

Then, in the early part of this century, came the

Wilsonian vision, which called for a global organization.

To this vision we owe the United Nations. After the

Second World War - even at the height of the cold war -

mankind envisaged a bolder world. The vision of a

global welfare was presented, for example, by the

Swedish scholar Gunnar Myrdal, who urged us to move

"beyond the welfare state".

Now, at the end of the twentieth century, the demise

of the cold war offers us yet another vision of a new

world. The old order based on force is losing its grip on

international relations. Gone are the days when defects in

the balance of power necessarily invited ambition or

20

adventure. The days of expansive and proselytizing

ideologies have passed. A new order based on peaceful

accord, cooperation and interdependence is emerging.

This can best be characterized as a non-zero-sum

global society. In today’s world no country can remain

unaffected by the havoc of another, whether caused by

hunger, tyranny, environmental pollution or the proliferation

of weapons. Similarly, every country can benefit from

world prosperity, world peace and a cleaner world

environment. This new world, if successful in addressing

thorny issues such as the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction, will allow us to escape from the age-old

security dilemma.

What can we do to solve such critical impending

problems as poverty, pollution, population, national

conflicts, oppression and the arms race? Most of all, we

need shared values and common purposes. We first need

a sound understanding of the nature of these new problems.

We must recognize that these are problems that affect us all

and require our concerted efforts.

In this new era genuine world peace cannot be

achieved without our properly addressing the issues of

social and economic development.

My delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-

General on an agenda for development as a timely and

appropriate initiative. His report has moved the United

Nations to the foreground of discussions on development.

Given the importance of the political will of nations in

this endeavour, the United Nations system as a whole

should play a leading role by serving as a forum for nations

to work out remedies for economic and social problems

which undermine peace and security in many parts of the

world. We hope that the current General Assembly session

will provide a much needed opportunity for more serious

discussion on these vital issues. Taking advantage of its

recent experience in development, the Republic of Korea

will make its full contribution to the effort for global

economic and social development.

In June this year a variety of issues on development

were discussed at the World Hearings on Development. At

these Hearings special emphasis was placed on human-

centred development, the interrelationship between peace

and development and the need for strengthening

international cooperation. I hope that a concrete action

programme will be worked out, based on the informative

views presented at the Hearings and at the high-level

segment of the 1994 substantive session of the Economic

and Social Council.

Our past experience has taught us that social

development and economic growth are inseparable.

Meaningful social progress necessarily includes

substantial economic growth. At the same time, the

substance of social development - the promotion of social

welfare, equitable redistribution and the protection of the

environment - is crucial for sustainable economic growth.

In this context, I am convinced that the World Summit

for Social Development, to be held in Copenhagen next

year, will set a new landmark in the field of social

development by producing effective and feasible action

plans.

Economic and social development is closely linked

with environmental issues. During the past four decades

the world population has doubled, while the global

economy has grown eightfold. For the first time the

Earth has begun to feel the heavy strains of human

activity. It has become evident that the planet can no

longer keep up with the pace of its exploitation. A

balance must be struck, and harmony sought, between the

environment and development.

Two years ago the United Nations took a most

important initiative by holding the United Nations

Conference on Environment and Development. We

should uphold the goal set by this conference:

environmentally sound and sustainable development. To

achieve this goal, the advanced countries should play a

leading role in protecting the environment. Support

should be given to developing countries in the form of

financial contributions and the transfer of

environmentally-sound technology. Developing countries,

for their part, should make efforts commensurate with

their capabilities.

As a member of the Commission on Sustainable

Development, the Republic of Korea has actively

participated in formulating global regimes for the

environment. We have joined international environmental

agreements and contributed to the Global Environment

Facility (GEF). My Government will continue its efforts

and cooperation to attain both development and a better

environment.

21

Today we are witnessing a massive exodus of people

in many parts of the world, the consequence of armed

conflict and natural disasters.

We are pleased that the United Nations capacity to

provide humanitarian assistance has been strengthened

through close coordination between its relevant bodies.

However, appeals for urgently needed resources are usually

met with a fraction of the targeted figures, thereby seriously

hampering the effective implementation of humanitarian

programmes. Once again, we need generous assistance

from the entire international community.

I am happy to report that, thanks to the recent public

campaigns organized by the Government and various non-

governmental organizations in Korea, the Korean public has

been alerted to the importance of humanitarian assistance.

This is demonstrated by the fact that we have been sending

financial aid, medical personnel and supplies to such

troubled spots as Rwanda.

On human rights, more than a year has elapsed since

the Vienna World Conference on this important subject was

held in 1993. My Government is encouraged to see that

some of the provisions in its Programme of Action have

already been implemented.

Since last year the Korean Government has been

pursuing in earnest a policy that we call "new diplomacy",

which emphasizes the universal values of human rights,

welfare, liberty and democracy. Currently we are preparing

to become a party to the Convention against Torture, and

last July the Third United Nations Workshop for the

Asia-Pacific Region on Human Rights Issues was held in

Seoul. Among the outcomes of the Workshop was

acceptance of our proposal to hold the Workshop on a

regular basis. That agreement is an expression of the

collective will of all the Asia-Pacific countries, which has

helped us to move one step closer to the ultimate

establishment of a regional human rights institution.

Another critical task for global peace and security is

preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,

both nuclear and biochemical. Most urgently, we must deal

with the problem of nuclear proliferation. The Republic of

Korea supports the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the Review

and Extension Conference in 1995. The Treaty has made

an enormous contribution to international security as the

mainstay of the non-proliferation regime. The legitimacy

of the NPT should be reinforced through renewed efforts on

the part of the nuclear Powers and through increased

international cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear

energy. At the same time, the effectiveness of the NPT

regime should be enhanced by strengthening the

safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA).

The negotiations for a comprehensive test-ban Treaty

(CTBT) at the Conference on Disarmament are also very

important. A universal and verifiable CTBT will

undoubtedly serve as a major instrument in strengthening

the non-proliferation regime and advancing nuclear

disarmament. The recent changes in the world order

require a rationalization of disarmament agendas and new

working methods. The multilateral disarmament

frameworks must meet these requirements. In view of the

ever-increasing importance of the Conference on

Disarmament as a negotiating forum, its membership

should be expanded.

In keeping with the spirit of the United Nations

Charter, efforts for disarmament and security measures

should also be encouraged on the regional level. In this

regard, the Republic of Korea welcomes the productive

discussions on confidence-building measures at the

Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Regional Forum last July in Bangkok. A security

dialogue for the North-East Asian subregion would

complement this region-wide framework.

A major challenge to the NPT regime is the North

Korean nuclear problem, which poses a serious threat not

only to the Korean peninsula, but also to the Asian--

Pacific region and the world as a whole. The suspicions

surrounding the North Korean nuclear programme should

be completely cleared by securing transparency of its

nuclear activities, past and future, as well as the present.

For this, North Korea should fully cooperate with the

IAEA in the implementation of the safeguards agreement

and implement the Joint Declaration on the

Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

If North Korea fulfils its obligations in good faith,

we will do all we can to assist the DPRK in the peaceful

use of nuclear energy. Depending on the resolution of

the nuclear issue, the Republic of Korea stands ready to

make its technological and capital resources available for

North Korea’s overall economic development in the spirit

of mutual prosperity.

The post-cold-war international situation presents us

with opportunities for a new world as well as multiple

challenges to our efforts for peace and development.

22

Therefore, it is all the more imperative that the role of the

United Nations be increased.

One of the most remarkable changes in the aftermath

of the cold war is the strengthened role of the United

Nations in peace-keeping. As regional conflicts have come

to replace the bipolar confrontation of the cold war, United

Nations peace-keeping operations have expanded

dramatically, both in number and mandate.

Given the limited resources for United Nations

peace-keeping activities, more effort should be made for the

effective use of preventive diplomacy. The decisions on

United Nations involvement in actual conflicts should be

made selectively and with proper priorities. Continued

efforts should also be made to address the modality of

intervention and the means of securing the necessary

resources.

The Republic of Korea remains firmly committed to

United Nations peace-keeping activities. As part of its

ongoing support, the Republic of Korea sent an engineering

unit to Somalia last year. Last month we dispatched a

medical unit to Western Sahara, and in a few days Korean

military observers will arrive in Georgia. Korea also plans

to join United Nations efforts to arrange stand-by forces.

The new diplomacy of my Government puts emphasis

on globalism. Through active engagement in global affairs,

Korea seeks to play its due role within the United Nations

framework. It is in this vein that the Republic of Korea has

presented its candidature for a seat on the Security Council

for the 1996-1997 term. We look forward to the

encouragement and support of other Member States for this

effort.

We support reform of the United Nations. Reforms

are needed in order better to cope with the new challenges

faced by the world body. As United Nations membership

has increased from 51 in 1945 to 184 in 1994, an

enlargement of the Council seems in order. The key

question is how to increase the number of seats without

compromising the Security Council’s effectiveness.

Creation of a third category of Council members, coupled

with the expansion of non-permanent membership, may be

an answer.

For the United Nations fully to assume its role in the

new international environment, its financial difficulties

should be duly addressed. It is also imperative that the

efficiency of the Organization and its management be

enhanced to guarantee the effective use of available

resources. In this regard, my delegation welcomes the

establishment of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,

and looks forward to the active role of the

newly-appointed Under-Secretary-General for Internal

Oversight Services.

The Republic of Korea feels a particular sense of

affinity with the United Nations. Both Korea and the

United Nations were born in the wake of the Second

World War. Upon creation, both entertained great

expectations: the United Nations hoped for global peace;

Korea hoped for national integrity and prosperity. They

both experienced disappointment, however, as their

expectations were crushed by conflict and division: the

cold war and East-West division for the United Nations;

the Korean War and South-North division for Korea.

Now, at last, the United Nations has risen from its

unhappy past with new hopes; the world body is no

longer held hostage to the paralysing cold war vetoes.

The Republic of Korea has also overcome socio-political

difficulties and economic underdevelopment. But the

division on the Korean peninsula still remains. It is the

ardent wish, and also a firm belief, of the Korean people

that the shackles of national division will soon be broken

as the South and the North work together in the spirit of

reconciliation and cooperation.

My country’s unique relationship with the United

Nations makes the upcoming fiftieth anniversary all the

more meaningful to us. The National Committee of the

Republic of Korea for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the

United Nations was established last April. This

Committee is preparing a number of programmes, with

special emphasis on enhancing the awareness of the role

of the United Nations among the new generation. We

also plan to actively participate in the programmes

sponsored by the United Nations. In this regard, I am

pleased to note that a leading Korean corporation is

participating as a global sponsor in the preparation for the

United Nations fiftieth anniversary.

Next year the United Nations will celebrate its

golden anniversary. It will be an occasion for us all to be

reminded once again of the goals set forth in the Charter

of the United Nations. The new world which was

envisaged by the founding fathers of this body is yet to

take shape. But we must be aware that we now stand at

a critical juncture in history, and that a rare opportunity

has been handed to us.

23

We have to reach for a peaceful and prosperous world

based on interdependence and cooperation between nations.

Success will depend on our ability to understand the nature

of the new global environment, which is fundamentally

different from the old one, and on our determination to

meet the challenge.

We have to associate ourselves with the forces that

will shape the future. United, and only by being united,

can we build and thrive in this new world society.