The Seoul Diplomatic Corps. showed their deep interest in multilateral diplomacy while attending at the Commemorative Event for the 71st UN Day held with a luncheon format in a hotel Seoul on Oct. 24th.

MOFAT Minister Yun Byung-se stressing Korea's increased role & expectation in international arena and the importance of overcoming daunting tasks before us. (Courtesy: MOFAT)

Although now is a transition time for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-mooon to hand over his Secretary-General position to next UN Secretary-General designate, their attendance at the Commemorative Luncheon Event for the 71st UN Day in large numbers reflects the importance of cooperation among UN members countries and increased role of Korea in multilateral diplomacy.

At the main table of the luncheon, former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, former Foreign Minister Yoo Jong-ha, Ambassador Park Soo-gil, & Ambassador Lee Ho-jin sat down with Honduras Amb. Michel Idiaquez Baradat, Malaysia Amb. Dato Rohana Ramli, Dominican Amb. Grecia Fiordalicia Pichardo Polanco, Poland Amb. Kyzysztof lgnacy Majka & Ukraine Amb. Vasyl Marmazov.

Amb. Lee Ho-jin who serves as acting chairman of the Korea UN Association, awakened the attention of Diplomatic Corps for the increased UN's role, quoting terrorism & climate change to name just a few and foreigjn Minister Yun Byung-se said that I am proud UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has done a great job over the past decade, adding all of you will agree with me that Secretary-General Ban has greatly strengthened the role and status of the UN by contributing to addressing the unprecedented global challenges of our times, such as climate change and sustainable development.

On the peninsular circumstance, Minister Yun pointed out there is shared perception on the urgency and gravity of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. Accordingly, the international community also concurs that the current extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary responses, he added. As for two daunting tasks before Korea, one is to play an increasing global role commensurate with the high expectations of the international community. The other is to overcome the pressing challenge posed by North Korea and achieve durable peace, he stressed.