YouSaid · the spoken record

Oh Joon

lines on the record: 486
first: 2005-08-23
most recent: 2016-11-30
sittings or episodes: 106
sources: un-security-council

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

“This has serious negative impacts on the stability of other regions as well as the entire world. This is also warrants an enhanced role for the Security Council to maintain peace and security in the region. The Republic of Korea will continue to support the Security Council in fulfilling its mandate.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“We welcome the establishment of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, and urge that all parties responsible for the use of chlorine as a weapon be held accountable. Turning to Yemen, the Republic of Korea welcomes the Yemeni Government's statement on 18 October in which it expressed its willingness to participate in peace talks with the Houthi rebels. We further call on all the parties to make maximum use of this opportunity to forge a sustainable peace and defend the territory of Yemen from the terrorist threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We are witnessing the increasing vulnerability of the Middle East as the region faces the multifaceted challenges of violent extremism, terrorism and the vicious cycle of violence and intolerance.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“We also strongly urge all relevant parties to prevent and minimize civilian casualties and humanitarian crises. It has been reported that an additional nearly 50,000 Syrian people have been displaced following military offensives around Aleppo. The international community must pay closer attention to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis involving refugees and displaced persons and urgently take all necessary measures to address the related human tragedies. We oppose any actions by any party that hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance and urge all parties to fully cooperate with the international community's humanitarian efforts. We also believe that seeking legitimate accountability is part of a sustainable solution. The use of barrel bombs is an explicit violation of resolution 2139 (2014).”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“The Republic of Korea appreciates the timely and urgent efforts by the Secretary-General, especially his recent visit to the region, in order to prevent escalation and restore a long-term political horizon of peace. We also look forward to recharged mediation efforts by the Quartet. Every possible avenue should be explored to create a more favourable environment for dialogue between Israel and Palestine for a sustainable peace. On Syria, the Republic of Korea remains deeply concerned about the heavy toll on civilians as the conflict enters its fifth year. The key stakeholders should immediately sit down together to discuss the common denominator with which to start. In this regard, the Republic of Korea fully supports the ongoing efforts of Special Envoy De Mistura in seeking a political solution, which is the only viable option.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Preserving the historic status quo for the holy sites in Jerusalem and stopping the expansion of settlements in the occupied territory should be the first step towards that goal. The leaders of both Israel and Palestine must not forget that today's violence and hatred not only destroy their present lives but also deprive their children of any hope for a peaceful future. The past several decades of violence and intolerance are proof of that grim reality, and today's dangerous threats of violent extremism further increase the likelihood of that bleak future. We call upon both sides to have more courage and take more responsibility.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting at a time when the situation in the Middle East, especially in Israel and Palestine, is on a dangerous course. The recent cycle of violence arose across the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, particularly Jerusalem, reminds both the Israelis and Palestinians of the fact that mutual provocations and unilateral actions will not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian issue. That simple and powerful truth has been echoing within this Chamber for decades. The Republic of Korea once again urges all parties to put an end to violence and return to the negotiating table to work out a viable framework to resolve the conflict, with the two-State solution at its core.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Today, as we speak of how best to implement regional cooperation, we need to be as imaginative as the Founding Fathers of the United Nations so that we can effectively address threats to peace and security of all kinds around the world.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Last December, we hosted the Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea dialogue relations. Furthermore, the Republic of Korea has promoted the Northeast Asia peace and Cooperation Initiative. Inspired by the experiences of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in making Europe whole and free in the aftermath of the Cold War, the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative seeks to build a consensus on softer, yet critical, issues such as climate change, the environment, disaster relief and nuclear safety. We hope gradually to strengthen cooperation among regional players with a view to eventually addressing the region's more difficult issues.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505Resumption1 (2015) · source
“We appreciate the report by the High-level Independent Panel in Peace Operations (see S/2015/446), which calls for closer cooperation with regional organizations in addressing present and future conflicts. As a member of the Peacebuilding Commission's Organizational Committee, the Republic of Korea will seek ways to further develop close consultations with regional and subregional organizations and arrangements. Coming from a region where the role of regional organizations is not as prominent as in Africa or Europe, the Republic of Korea is nonetheless actively engaged in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) processes, including ASEAN-B, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asian Summit.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Today the international community faces a vastly different set of security challenges and threats. In coping with them, regional organizations play an increasingly important role. We have seen the instrumental role of regional organizations, especially in the crucial stage of early response, in situations in Somalia, Mali, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Burundi. Furthermore, the successful response of the African Union in countering the Ebola epidemic in West Africa highlights the convening power, political leverage and outreach of a regional organization. In recognition of the role that can be played by regional and subregional organizations, the Republic of Korea was one of the sponsors of resolution 2167 (2014).”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505Resumption1 (2015) · source
“At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, Madam President, and the Government of Nigeria on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and for convening today's important debate. As we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we also pay tribute to the visionaries to whom we owe much gratitude for formulating the Charter of the United Nations with such wisdom and foresight. I join others in praising the insights enshrined in Chapter VIII of the Charter, which foresaw the need for the United Nations to establish deeper cooperation with regional organizations. Seventy years later, we are witnessing a trend whereby regional and subregional organizations are becoming more prominent features in the global peace and security landscape.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505Resumption1 (2015) · source
“As a member of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Republic of Korea will continue to make efforts to prevent relapses into conflict. When prevention fails, a political solution should be swiftly sought. We should be especially vigilant with respect to situations in which the overwhelming sacrifice of children is overshadowed by the political and military context and perceived as an inevitable part of armed conflicts.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“We welcome resolution 2225 (2015), adopted today, which includes abductions as a new trigger for listing in the Secretary-General's annual report. Enriching our toolkit for the protection of children is a signal that our shared vision is expanding, while pressuring all stakeholders to join us. It is encouraging that, this year, armed groups in the Central African Republic and South Sudan have released children under their control. Extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, however, are likely to remain persistent. That is when a more fundamental and determined approach should be taken. Lastly, we stress that children cannot be completely safe from devastating armed conflicts once they break out. Prevention is the best strategy.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“Nor should the sacrifice of children be accepted as a mere unintended consequence of military actions. "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind". We support the Secretary-General, who stresses our common humanity and calls upon all Member States not to lose sight of the vital objective of protecting children, which is both a moral imperative and a legal obligation. We also support the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. Accountability is the key to ending gross violations against children and preventing their recurrence. Monitoring and reporting, listing in the Secretary-General's report, targeted sanctions and enhanced justice mechanisms have proved to be effective in seeking accountability.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“I would like to congratulate Malaysia on its Council presidency for the month of June. Since the adoption of resolution 1612 (2005) 10 years ago, the international community has continued to raise awareness regarding the protection of children in armed conflicts. Our efforts, however, have often been hampered by blindness and savagery. In 2014, we witnessed how countless children were sacrificed in conflicts for which they were not responsible. Our concern is that victimizing children is not only unacceptable in itself but sows the seeds for conflicts in future generations. As the "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign, launched by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zerrougui and UNICEF, points out, children are not soldiers. No responsible member of the international community should use children for military purposes.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“States' stockpile management capacity should be taken into account when the Security Council considers the termination of an arms embargo. Two years ago, the Security Council set an important milestone by adopting resolution 2117 (2013), the first-ever Council resolution to address the challenges posed by small arms. The resolution paved the way for an enhanced role by the Council in tackling this issue. We should continue in our united efforts to stem the scourge of illicit arms transfer and misuse that undermine our security, human rights and development goals.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“The Council can strengthen the role of peacekeeping missions in monitoring arms embargoes on the ground. Examples like the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire, where dedicated arms- embargo monitoring units were established, offers a good precedent. Improving information-sharing among States, sanctions committees and peace missions will also contribute to the effective implementation of these embargoes. On the demand side ofillicit arms transfers, an equally urgent task is to better secure these weapons from the risk of diversion by strengthening national stockpile security and management. The Security Council should continue to mandate peacekeeping missions to assist host countries in their management of arms stockpiles, as well as their disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“This landmark treaty establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive norm to prevent arms transfers that lead to serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. We believe that the faithful implementation of the ATT will help curb the irresponsible flow of small arms to conflict zones and perpetrators of war crimes and other atrocities. The Republic of Korea is taking steps to ratify the Treaty at the earliest possible time. While States have the primary responsibility to tackle this challenge, the Security Council also has a vital role to play in addressing both the supply- and demand-driven aspects of arms transfers. With its legally binding arms embargoes, the Security Council can contribute to the prevention of arms flows to conflict regions.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for convening today's important meeting. We highly appreciate Lithuania's contribution to efforts to address the diverse challenges posed by small arms and light weapons. Small arms and light weapons are the predominantly used weapons in a vast majority of armed conflicts today. The flows of small arms into conflict zones have fuelled violence, undermined peacebuilding efforts and have had a catastrophic humanitarian impact on civilians, especially women and children. Building upon a number of initiatives, including the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, the international community recently took a momentous step in efforts to address this challenge by adopting and bringing into force the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“As Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed at the Washington, D.C., Summit on countering violent extremism last February, preventing violent extremism may be the greatest test that our human family faces in the twenty-first century. It is time for us to join hands and pull together our wisdom in order to tackle this formidable challenge.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“It is the home communities themselves that are best placed to protect their youths from such vulnerability, by providing them with a sense of belonging, identity andjob opportunities. Thirdly, from a broader perspective, we should delve deeper and address the social gaps and ills that allow violent extremism to take root. Good governance, the protection of human rights and development are all essential elements in addressing the grievances and hopelessness that breed Violent extremism. Of crucial importance, too, is the role of education that teaches our future generations universal values such as human dignity, diversity and tolerance, as emphasized in the concept of global citizenship education.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“We must develop and disseminate effective, persuasive messages that will convince these young people that the ideologies promoted by extremist propaganda are just false and empty promises. Our winning point should be free and diverse societies that offer the right path to true dignity, opportunities and happiness for all. Schools, families and religious communities should play a central role in telling young people that they will not find any opportunities or future in extremism. Secondly, community engagement is of particular importance in preventing youth radicalization, as stressed by resolution 2178 (2014). Disaffected youths in each society are easily targeted by extremist recruiters, who lure them with promises of a new community and collective identity.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Preventing radicalization will therefore require an equally diverse and multidimensional approach. I would like to share a few thoughts in this regard. First, we need to more effectively counter extremist narratives and propaganda that prey on the minds of young people. Groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant promote and propagate distorted Views and interpretations of religion, history and the world through the Internet and social media. To prevent the radicalization of youth, we need first to have a clear understanding of why these messages have such an appeal to so many young people across different societies. Simply shutting down websites and suspending Facebook accounts will not yield the results we hoped for.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Mr. President, I would like to thank you and the Jordanian presidency for convening this important debate on countering Violent extremism. Today, the number of foreign terrorist fighters is higher than ever in history. The fact that a significant proportion of these individuals are young people, some barely 15 years old, is a particularly alarming trend. One of the most pressing security challenges we face today is preventing these young people from falling into the grip of violent extremism. Yet the difficult reality is that there is no single, one-size-fits-all solution to this multifaceted problem. The motivation behind youth radicalization varies by society, and diverse factors are involved, ranging from extremist ideology to socioeconomic factors and personal grievances.”
2015-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7432 (2015) · source
“Promoting gender equality and empowering women will be the most effective strategy in the prevention of such crimes and the protection of women in conflict. Ushering in the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), we look forward to another milestone in our collective effort towards progress.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“In order to facilitate the full implementation of resolutions related to women and peace and security, we also support the accelerated deployment of gender advisers and the integration of Department of Peacekeeping Operations/ Department of Field Support training materials into missions' pre-deployment training. Thirdly, multidimensional programmes to assist national authorities in seeking accountability should be put to full use. The Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict mandated by resolution 1888 (2009), and the Justice Rapid Response mechanism, among others, need to be utilized further. Last but not least, we believe that the myth that sexual Violence is an inherent, unfortunate aspect of conflict should be dispelled. Such perceptions have allowed what we are witnessing to persist and even worsen.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“A sovereign State should be the first to act to protect the most vulnerable people under its jurisdiction. The vast majority of cases of sexual violence are perpetrated by non-State actors; is is therefore crucial that the international community induce non-State actors to abstain from sexual violence in compliance with the norms of international humanitarian law. A firm stance against sexual Violence will enhance the legitimacy of the State that discharges the primary responsibility for the protection of its people. Secondly, we support the Council's full integration of conflict-related sexual violence elements into the work of its relevant sanctions committees as part of the designation criteria for targeted sanctions.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“It is great to see you again, Madam, and to see you as the President of the Council for the month of April. We appreciate your convening of this important debate. While we address the issue of sexual violence committed by States and non-State actors in conflicts today, we have a new disturbing trend to discuss, namely, the use of sexual Violence by extremist groups as a tactic of war. The report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual Violence (S/2015/203) alerts us to the fact that sexual violence is not incidental, but integrally linked with the strategic objectives of extremist groups. Exploiting sexual violence to terrorize and displace people should never be acceptable. Against that backdrop, my delegation would like to stress the following points. First, we would like to stress the critical role of each Member State.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Last but not least, our quest for a more responsible and effective United Nations would not be complete without joint cooperation in bringing the necessary reform to the Security Council, the primary tool in our collective efforts to maintain peace and security. Such reform should be future-oriented and membership-driven instead of expanding the exceptional status introduced to settle a World War 70 years ago. Our common goal is a more accountable and more functional Security Council. To achieve this, we have to reduce the possibilities for inaction and increase the potential for action. The Republic of Korea will continue to contribute to this process.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“We also need to be wary of another kind of challenge to the values of the Charter, one that can come from attempts to disregard the lessons of history. Peacekeeping operations are a case in point. While respecting principles such as national sovereignty, the concept ofpeacekeeping operations is being evolved to bring peace and protect civilians. We believe that the Secretary-General's comprehensive review on peace operations will be another milestone in this regard and look forward to contributing to building on this review. Some other important initiatives by the Secretary- General, such as Human Rights up Front and the open- door policy, demonstrate the growing nexus between security and human rights.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“In the face ofthese diverse challenges, the principles of the United Nations Charter should continue to guide our efforts. At the same time, we must recall that those principles reflect more fundamental values. The principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, such as sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-intervention, are not goals per se; they are the tools that we use to realize our values of preventing war and protecting humanity. But in reality, we sometimes witness principles being invoked for reasons of political convenience. Future historians looking back at today might take note of the struggle of the United Nations to overcome such constraints and remain true to the underlying values of the Charter.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's debate and to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. Looking back on the road we have travelled in the 70 years since the launch of the United Nations, the purposes and principles of the United Nations have been a guiding light in the building of a more peaceful and prosperous international community. The current global security environment, however, is a far cry from what it was after the Second World War. Various challenges of a wide-ranging nature have evolved quickly. Conflicts are much more complicated in terms of their causes and forms, as we see in non-State-actor-related security issues, intra-State conflicts, transnational violent extremism and cybersecurity threats, to name but a few.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“In that context, we believe that the concept of inclusive societies should be included in the post-2015 development agenda. The Republic of Korea attaches importance to socioeconomic inclusivity in assisting other countries' capacity-building. We have been providing integrated assistance to post-conflict countries in the areas of security, development, women's empowerment and maternal and child health. In conclusion, we would like to stress the importance of close cooperation between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council. Inclusive development for conflict prevention is the area where both organs' stakes overlap. We will continue to play a constructive role in that process moving forward.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“That is a sine qua non, however, for making progress and leaving conflicts behind. The international community cannot replace those who must play that role, but it can provide assistance so that political, economic and social inclusiveness are integrated into the entire process of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In that regard, the horizon-scanning mechanism can be utilized to help the Security Council and the international community remain alert to early warning signs requiring rapid responses. At the same time, the importance of regional entities' proactive engagement cannot be overemphasized. Their voices can be better heard, mitigating concerns over domestic affairs. The United Nations system and the donor community may review a strategy to provide more sustained and predictable support for more inclusive societies.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Sovereignty and territorial integrity were not always properly invoked for their genuine raison d'etre. Political considerations sometimes stood in the way of finding reasonable solutions. In countries in conflict, more often than not, national stakeholders' priorities do not necessarily overlap with those of the international community. Therefore, an important prerequisite is to foster national unity. If national stakeholders are fragmented and even hostile to each other, international support will also be fragmented and remain counterproductive. That is where the role of national leadership becomes indispensable. Exercising leadership with a view to reconciliation and social cohesion is often a task that requires self- sacrifice. Sharing limited resources with former enemies requires courage and vision.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing today's debate. I also congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency for the month of January. As we usher in 2015, inclusive development is a very timely theme for a Security Council open debate. Conflicts around the world show that peace and security are fragile without an inclusive process in the political, economic and social realms. Indeed, discrimination and marginalization often provide space for violent extremism, which is increasingly transboundary in nature. While serving on the Security Council over the past two years, the Republic of Korea supported the prioritization of inclusivity for peace and prosperity. The outcome was not always rewarding, however. Sometimes, reiterated calls sounded like hollow words in the face of harsh realities.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Once again, we urge all parties to respect previous agreements and return to the negotiating table to work out a viable agreement with a two-State solution at its core.”
2014-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7354 (2014) · source
“In that process, any unilateral action by either party will be counterproductive and hinder genuine progress, especially as paragraph 10 of the draft resolution S/2014/9l6 calls upon both parties to abstain from any unilateral actions. That is why the Republic of Korea abstained in today's voting. Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, we agree with the Secretary-General's repeated warning that time is not on the side of peace. We share the view that the longer the present state of insecurity continues, the further the path to genuine peace will be. However, that is all the more reason for each side to exercise restraint and not worsen the situation by engaging in a unilateral action.”
2014-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7354 (2014) · source
“On the issue of the Middle East peace process, the Republic of Korea has supported the two-State solution as the only viable way to build a lasting peace in the region. We fully understand and empathize with the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have an independent State of their own. We believe that such an aspiration is in accordance with the right of the Palestinian people, as embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. To that end, we believe that direct negotiations between the parties are indispensable for realizing two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders.”
2014-12-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7354 (2014) · source
“We only hope that one day in the future, when we look back on what we have done today, we will be able to say that we did the right thing for the people of North Korea, for the life of every man and women, boy and girl, who has the same human rights as the rest of us.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“We cannot read the descriptions in the commission of inquiry report without it breaking our hearts. We cannot watch video clips from North Korea without flinching at every scene. We cannot listen to the stories of North Korean defectors without sharing their tears, without feeling as if we are there with them experiencing the tragedies. As we leave the Council with the debate on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, we do so with an ardent wish. The ardent wish is for the situation to improve for the people of North Korean, our innocent sisters and brothers, who are on the street, in the countryside, in the prison camps, who are suffering for no reason.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“When we first arrived in the Council two years ago, one of the first issues we tackled was the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's missile and nuclear issues. In the Council, my country has dealt with many issues to which we have not been party, with a view to contributing to the work of the Council. Yet, somehow, our term in the Council started, and is ending, with the North Korean issue. It must be just a coincidence, but I say that with a heavy heart, because, for South Koreans, the people of North Korea are not just anyone. Millions of South Koreans still have family members living in the North, even though we never hear from them and even though, by now, the pain of separation has become a cold fact of life. We know that they are there, just a few hundred kilometres away from where we live.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“As the Democratic People's Republic of Korea previously expressed its willingness to do so, we hope that Pyongyang will begin engaging with the international community through human-rights dialogues, including with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and through technical cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In closing, the Republic of Korea hopes that the Council will continue to play a Vital role in ensuring that the North Korean people will eventually be able to enjoy their inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms. Speaking at this meeting is probably my last duty in the Council.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“We believe that addressing the North Korean human-rights issue is vital, not only in promoting human rights as a universal value, but also in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region. In that context, the Republic of Korea has been working together with the international community to improve the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and to provide assistance to the North Korean people. We will redouble those efforts in the coming years. We urge the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to take steps to improve their human rights situation.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“It also recommended that the Council play a crucial role in ensuring accountability, including by considering referral of the situation in Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the International Criminal Court. In addition, my Government takes serious note of the announcement by the United States Government on 19 December that North Korea carried out a cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment and posed threats to movie theatres, which were also mentioned in Mr. Zerihoun's briefing earlier. In that regard we would like to express deep concern over such acts, which seriously undermine the openness and security of cyberspace and escalate international tension.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“Such engagement is crucial, as we now understand the human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be so systematic and widespread that they not only cause mass suffering among North Koreans, but also pose a threat to regional and international peace and security. The Council has taken necessary measures in other cases in the past in which human rights violations were committed on a scale large enough to constitute a threat to peace and security. Likewise, the Council needs to pay due attention to the grave situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In that regard, we would like to stress the commission of inquiry's conclusion that many of the violations found in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have amounted to crimes against humanity.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“Following the report's release, we at the United Nations have dealt with the issue in the Human Rights Council and in the General Assembly. While the General Assembly has adopted multiple resolutions since 2005 on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, this year's resolution 69/188 was unique in that it contained recommendations on the Council's role in these efforts. Therefore, the Council's decision to place the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on its agenda is a necessary starting point for further discussion and engagement.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“I should like to express my appreciation to the Chadian presidency for convening today's meeting on the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We also thank Mr. Zerihoun and Mr. Simonovic' for their briefings on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is unfortunate that, despite the international community's efforts to address the human rights issues of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over several years, the situation has continued to worsen, ultimately warranting the Security Council's attention. Earlier this year, the commission of inquiry issued its landmark report (S/2014/276, annex), which raised international awareness of the gravity of the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7353 (2014) · source
“Although we will no longer be on the Council, the Republic of Korea will continue to work closely with the members of the Council to safeguard peace and security across the globe. We are confident that the Council's ongoing efforts will bring our world closer to peace. I wish all members the best in their future endeavours.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“During the past two years the Council has collectively made considerable progress towards building peace and stability in many parts of the world. But we have also been bogged down by some of the most pressing crises of our time. My delegation is honoured and also humbled to have been a part of that unified effort to bring more peace to the world. I would also like to express sincere appreciation to all of the Council members for their close collaboration and friendship during the past two years. I am also grateful to the Secretariat staff for their kind assistance and support. My special thanks go to the support staff, including the translators, interpreters and security personnel.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source