YouSaid · the spoken record

Yun Byung-se

lines on the record: 33
first: 2013-09-24
most recent: 2016-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I hope that this year’s session of the General Assembly, representing the peoples of the world, will help to increase confidence in the Organization as a beacon of hope in a turbulent world. And I would like to assure the Assembly that my country will continue to be a staunch supporter of the United Nations in its important and vital mission.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I would like to commend his commitment and leadership, and his remarkable achievements in a range of areas, notably on climate change, sustainable development, gender equality, humanitarian assistance and management reform of the United Nations. I believe that he has greatly strengthened the Organization’s role and status through his efforts to deal with the unprecedented challenges that we have seen during a time of enormous transformation. The United Nations is currently in the process of choosing his successor. I am confident that the next Secretary-General will strive to make the Organization stronger and more efficient by building on Mr. Ban’s legacy. The founding principles of the Republic of Korea are at one with the spirit of the Charter’s phrase “We the peoples”.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“There should be greater scrutiny of the human rights of North Korean workers outside the country and of the possible diversion of their wages into North Korea’s programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. Thirdly, the international community should pay more attention to the desire of North Koreans for freedom and human dignity. They deserve better access to the realities of the outside world. For our part, we recently passed an act on the human rights of North Koreans, reflecting the nationwide consensus that we should no longer ignore the human rights situation in North Korea. This year marks Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s tenth year in office and the last session of the General Assembly during his term.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We live in an age of greater accountability today. North Korea’s human rights abuses should no longer be allowed any impunity. It is also our common responsibility to protect the country’s people when the regime defiantly refuses to do so itself. Now is the time for action. First, the international community’s human rights mechanisms must come up with more robust measures. A group of independent experts on accountability should recommend practical mechanisms to enforce accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, particularly those that amount to crimes against humanity. Secondly, we must focus more on North Korea’s so-called State-sponsored forced labour abroad.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“North Korea’s fifth nuclear test not only revealed its unambiguous nuclear ambitions, it also exposed its utter disregard for its own people. At a time of the worst flooding that it has experienced in decades, North Korea went ahead with its nuclear test in the very region that was hardest hit by the floods. It is estimated that North Korea has spent at least $200 million on nuclear tests and missiles this year alone, a sum that would have been enough to pay for flood relief. Two years ago, the report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (A/HRC/25/63), which detailed North Korea’s systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, was an eye-opener for the entire world. Its ripples spread to the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly, the Security Council and even beyond.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“They show that North Korea makes a complete mockery of the authority of the Security Council, and thereby of the United Nations itself. It is crystal clear that North Korea, as a serial offender, has manifestly failed to uphold its pledge to abide by its obligations under the Charter, particularly the commitments to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. I therefore believe that it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified to be a peace-loving Member of the United Nations, something that many countries are already questioning. At the East Asia Summit held recently in Laos, my President warned that, unless we put a brake on Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions today, we will regret it tomorrow. This is our last chance.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In the wake of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, the Security Council agreed to begin working immediately on appropriate measures based on Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations, and it is currently discussing a new draft resolution on North Korea. We believe that the Council should adopt stronger, more comprehensive sanctions that go beyond the scope of resolution 2270 (2016), close its loopholes and further expand and reinforce the existing measures. In that context, we need to find an answer to a more fundamental question, namely, North Korea’s repeated violations of and non-compliance with Security Council resolutions and international norms, which are unprecedented, with no parallel in the history of the United Nations.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“North Korea has also fired 22 ballistic missiles of various types this year alone, amounting to one ballistic missile almost every 10 days. The nuclear and ballistic missile tests show that North Korea is now at the final stage of nuclear weaponization. Even more worryingly, not only has it advanced its nuclear and missile capacity, it has publicly threatened to actually use those weapons preemptively, with the potential to strike my country, the Republic of Korea, in four to five minutes. With such a direct existential threat to our survival, my Government has no choice but to take the defensive measures necessary to protect our nation and citizens.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“North Korea is the first and only country to develop nuclear- weapon programmes under the regime of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and it has announced its withdrawal from both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the NPT. It is also the first and only country to officially declare itself to be a nuclear-weapon State in its own Constitution. North Korea’s recent nuclear tests show that its programmes have neared a tipping point. The latest test was the strongest ever. The interval between tests has also been significantly reduced, from three years to eight months. Given the country’s unpredictability and penchant for provocations, the next test and nuclear provocation may come even sooner than we expect.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As President Obama remarked earlier this week here in this Hall, one has taken the path of success, while the other has become a wasteland (see A/71/PV.8). The reason that North Korea has failed is because, among other things, of its fanatical and reckless pursuit of nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea has been the first and only country to conduct nuclear tests in this century. So far it has conducted five such tests, violating multiple Security Council resolutions. Just yesterday, at the eighth ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 43 countries issued a joint statement condemning Pyongyang’s nuclear tests in the strongest terms.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Another symptom is the spread of violent extremism and terrorism. Those are multifaceted challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We need a holistic, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach. This year, the United Nations embarks on its next 70 years. For us, 2016 is also an important symbolic year: just 25 years ago, the Republic of Korea, together with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, became a State Member of the United Nations. Two Koreas were admitted simultaneously, but we had a dream that in the future, there would be one Korea, just like one reunified Germany in 1991. Looking back at the track record of those two Members, there can be no starker contrast.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The successful implementation of the SDGs relies on the strong anchor of peace and security, as well as respect for human rights. Peace in the fullest sense can be achieved solely when peace and security, development and human rights are advanced together, and that is the essence of the new concept of sustaining peace. It broadens peacebuilding from post-conflict contexts to the whole spectrum of conflicts. We share the renewed awareness of the idea that conflict prevention should be mainstreamed in all United Nations activities. As has been noted by many speakers this week, a frequent signal of looming conflicts is the violation of human rights. In conflict prevention, reading the writing on the wall before it is too late is imperative. We know that from experience, such as in Syria, Libya and Afghanistan.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Over the past year, my Government launched major initiatives in the areas of education, women’s empowerment, science, technology and rural development. We have introduced Korea Aid, a new development cooperation initiative, a mobile, customized service delivered to those in need. Vulnerable groups are already experiencing better health and medical services, as well as enjoying adequate food and cultural activities. The SDGs and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change are inextricably linked to the future of our planet and our people. They should be mutually reinforcing and lead to a virtuous cycle. In that respect, as the host of the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, my Government is taking domestic steps to complete the ratification of the Paris Agreement as soon as possible this year.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In order to address that multilayered equation in a sustainable way, the United Nations needs to heed calls for inclusive multilateralism, that is, multilateral efforts to include the vulnerable, the isolated and the unempowered. The World Humanitarian Summit, held in May, and the high-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of migrants and refugees, held this September, represent part of such joint efforts in that regard. Most of all, we have the flagship blueprint for inclusive multilateralism, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its promise for a world that leaves no one behind. The Republic of Korea is often referred to as a success story for development. As such, we are ready to share our experiences for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In 2015 in this Hall, the international community shared its concerns on the state of the world: conflicts and civil wars, terrorism and violent extremism, climate change, epidemics and grinding poverty. Unfortunately, the oversupply of problems and the deficit of solutions remains unchanged. The sense of crisis paradoxically drew us together to achieve historic milestones, namely, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. For the United Nations, 2016 marks the first year of the next seven decades. It is also the first year for implementing the noted landmark achievements. In an increasingly interconnected world that faces a daunting array of complex challenges, the central role played by the United Nations is more crucial than ever.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I am reminded of the solemn pledge that my Government made 22 years ago — that the Republic of Korea will actively contribute to the resolution of global challenges through the United Nations. Today, I stand before the Assembly to reaffirm the commitment of the new Government of the Republic of Korea — that Korea will contribute to realizing the era of global happiness by achieving the goals set out by the United Nations. It is only when we make common and collective efforts toward advancing the universal values of peace, development and human rights that the United Nations will truly become the parliament of humankind.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Korea will actively support the Green Climate Fund, headquartered in Korea, so that it develops into a significant organization that supports developing countries in responding to climate change and the threats it brings. Deepening global interdependence has led to the rise of challenges requiring a common response. Expectations of the role to be played by the United Nations are now higher than ever before. Indeed, the United Nations has made great contributions as the centre of global cooperation and is expected to continue in those noble endeavours. As former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld once said, we should “recognize the United Nations for what it is — an admittedly imperfect but indispensable instrument of nations working for a peaceful evolution towards a more just and secure world order”.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Republic of Korea hopes that the Busan Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, launched in 2012, will also play a significant role in setting up a new cooperative mechanism to lead the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. Such development goals also coincide with Korea’s foreign policy objective of building an era of global happiness. The Republic of Korea hopes to work together to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs by pursuing a recipient-oriented development cooperation policy. More specifically, we will continue to increase our official development assistance and share our successful development experiences, such as the Saemaul Undong, or New Community Movement, with developing countries. In addition, a united response to climate change is critical to achieving global happiness.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is against that backdrop that we attach great importance to discussions on the future direction of and road map for development cooperation, under the theme of “The post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”, at the present session of the General Assembly. The next set of common global development goals should be genuinely people-centred and take into account a standard of well-being that goes beyond the traditional income levels. The new goals should place the greatest priority on guaranteeing the dignity of all. Furthermore, they should seek to build partnerships with the newly emerging development actors, so as to effectively utilize available capacities and resources.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As repeatedly emphasized in reports of United Nations special rapporteurs on sexual violence, responsible measures are called for that can restore the honour of the victims and soothe their pain, as such crimes involve a universal human rights issue. Underdevelopment and extreme poverty are the core challenges facing the United Nations today. Since the Millennium Summit was held in 2000, the collective efforts by the international community to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have yielded some very tangible results. However, progress has not been equally enjoyed across all regions, countries and groups of people.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“With that in mind, during its presidency of the Security Council in February, the Republic of Korea chaired an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (see S/PV.6917). We are also one of the champions of the newly launched protection from sexual violence initiative. In fact, sexual violence during conflicts is one of the most serious types of human rights violation. It is a war crime that not only destroys the life of the victim, but also that of the victim’s family and the community. In particular, for the victims of sexual violence during conflicts of the past century, the pain and the agony continue to this day. What matters most is genuine remorse and concrete actions.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“However, to our utmost regret, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea unilaterally cancelled that reunion, which would have been a humanitarian event, citing political reasons. Such an inhumane decision cannot be justified for any sound reason. Thus far, the new Administration of the Republic of Korea has maintained the insulation of humanitarian issues from political considerations. I therefore urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to convene the family reunion as soon as possible so as to ease the pain and suffering of the Korean people as a whole. The Republic of Korea wishes to draw the attention of the Assembly to the increasing need to protect civilians, including women and children, from armed conflicts around the globe.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Worldwide, there is an alarming increase in the number of refugees and internally displaced persons owing to wars and intra-State conflicts. Concerning the massive refugee problem caused by the Syrian civil war, my Government is actively involved in international efforts to assist the refugees. Korea is also planning to co-host a working group meeting on Syrian reconstruction in Seoul next month. The Republic of Korea also wishes to emphasize the need to uphold the internationally established legal principle of non-refoulement. Today, there are over 10 million people in Korea suffering from the agony of not being able to see their loved ones across the inter-Korean border, even 60 years after the end of the Korean War. Based on the recent agreement between the two Koreas, a reunion for those separated families was to be held this week.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To that end, the Republic of Korea proposed the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative, which will open dialogue on soft issues of common interests to the players in the region. The Republic of Korea is also interested in learning from the valuable experiences in successful regional institutions, such as the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The second pillar of an era of global happiness is the promotion of human rights and human dignity as universal values. In the past century, the Republic of Korea went through a colonial occupation and a tragic internecine war. From that experience, Koreans became more appreciative than others of the paramount importance of human rights and humanitarianism.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Through that process, the new Administration of the Republic of Korea was able to ensure the resumption of operations in the Kaesong industrial park, the only remaining inter-Korean economic cooperation project. Furthermore, the Republic of Korea proposes to create a world peace park in the world’s most heavily armed demilitarized zone, in order to transform a lasting legacy of the Cold War and a divided Korea into a new space of peace and harmony. It is my hope that the United Nations and the two Koreas will work together to bring this proposal to fruition, thereby contributing greatly to the building of trust in the Korean peninsula. Turning to the broader region of North-East Asia, Korea is expecting further political and security cooperation that corresponds to the level of economic interdependence in the region.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The Government of the Republic of Korea denounces all forms of terrorism and will continue to take part in the global efforts to combat terrorism. Together with its efforts to respond to the imminent security threats, including the proliferation of WMD, the new Administration of the Republic of Korea is pursuing a policy that it calls “trustpolitik”, to establish a regional order of reconciliation and cooperation in the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Our trustpolitik, in turn, is implemented through the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process and the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative. The Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process aspires to safeguard peace based on strong deterrence, while simultaneously building peace through dialogue and cooperation.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“As is the case with Syria, the international community should make united efforts to roll back the Democratic People’s Republic’s nuclear-weapons programmes to prevent the advent of another nuclear-armed State. However, if it decides to give up its so-called parallel pursuit of economic development and nuclear armament and in turn embarks on a path of genuine change through concrete actions, the Republic of Korea stands ready to help the Democratic People’s Republic. Alongside the proliferation of WMD, terrorism presents a grave threat to international peace and security in the twenty-first century. The Republic of Korea strongly condemns the terrorist attack that took place last weekend in Nairobi, Kenya. Our sincere condolences go out to the victims and their families of the tragedy.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We also strongly call upon all countries that have not acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to do so as soon as possible. In that context, I must draw attention to the seriousness of the Democratic People’s Republic’s ongoing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes. Despite a series of Security Council resolutions, the Democratic People’s Republic launched long-range missiles and conducted nuclear tests as recently as in early 2013, in blatant violation of its international obligations. It should strictly implement its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2094 (2013).”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In that connection, the use of chemical weapons in Syria, as confirmed by the report of the United Nations investigators (A/67/997), has caused the worst humanitarian disaster in the twenty-first century. The Government of the Republic of Korea condemns the use of chemical weapons in the strongest possible terms, as it constitutes a crime against humanity that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. In that regard, we welcome the recent agreement between the United States and Russia on the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons, and expect a decision by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. and a reinforcing resolution by the Security Council, sometime today. We urge the Syrian Government to faithfully implement its commitments to the international community.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Korea seeks to make meaningful contributions to maintain global peace beyond the Korean peninsula. We want to share the fruits of our economic success, which was achieved with the help of the international community, and strive to enhance the dignity and happiness of all global citizens. I believe that that is in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as well. The first pillar in attaining global happiness is security. In particular, the Republic of Korea is of the view that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“However, insecurity and inequality, injustice and intolerance still prevail in many parts of the world, where our common efforts are desperately needed. Furthermore, the rise of new global challenges, such as climate change, terrorism and cybercrime, calls for global cooperation that transcends the existing inter-State system. In other words, the importance and the relevance of the United Nations is ever increasing, as it is a key vehicle for global cooperation. The new Administration of the Republic of Korea has put forward its foreign-policy vision, which is built on two fundamental objectives: “happiness of the people” and “happiness of the global community”. Such a vision resonates with the core values of the United Nations — peace, human rights and development.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The moment came at the end of a long wait during the Cold War. At that time the Republic of Korea solemnly pledged to actively take part in the shaping of a new global order that is free, fair and prosperous and where justice and the rule of law prevail. To live up to this pledge, the Republic of Korea, though a latecomer, has fully embraced the callings of the United Nations with passion and devotion. In many corners of the world, Korea has actively taken part in peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts. Currently, Korea is serving as a member of the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, among others. Since its inception, the United Nations has taken on the noble endeavour of helping the peoples of the United Nations to live in larger freedom.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“May I first congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. I am confident that the current session will be a fruitful one under your able leadership. The Republic of Korea is pleased that the United Nations, in partnership with its Member States and under the stewardship of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is strengthening multilateralism by successfully responding to the diverse challenges that the international community faces. We are confident that the Secretary-General’s Five-Year Action Plan will help the United Nations to keep making important contributions in this period of transformation. Twenty-two years ago I was present in the Assembly to watch with great emotion the historic moment when the Republic of Korea was admitted as a State Member of the United Nations.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)