President Lee Jae-myung delivered a keynote speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 23rd (local time), and afterwards, he met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. President Lee emphasized that “peace and security on the Korean Peninsula are linked to the peace and security of the entire international community” and requested the UN’s support.
Secretary-General Guterres responded by stating that “the UN will strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the South Korean government,” commending South Korea’s current policy towards North Korea as a wise approach. He assured that the UN would actively support and endorse South Korea’s efforts.
The Office of the President announced that during their meeting, President Lee and Secretary-General Guterres agreed on close cooperation between South Korea and the UN, secured support for Korean Peninsula issues, and sought cooperation to expand the involvement of South Korean nationals in international organizations.
President Lee highlighted the importance of the UN’s role amid escalating conflicts and tensions within the international community, leading to disputes. He remarked that South Korea, which has evolved from an aid recipient to a donor country under the UN’s support, will play a greater role in tackling international challenges.
The President’s office also noted that President Lee urged the Secretary-General to pay attention to the expansion of talented South Korean individuals in international organizations. Additionally, President Lee expressed his support for Secretary-General Guterres’s ongoing UN reforms and committed that South Korea would take on necessary roles to help the UN develop into a more effective and efficient organization.
This meeting was the second between President Lee and Secretary-General Guterres, the first being a discussion during the G7 Summit in June this year. The Office of the President stated that President Lee would chair a high-level open debate at the UN Security Council on the 24th (local time), where Secretary-General Guterres would also participate to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on international peace and security.