Guterres says role of middle powers more important as global tensions deepen
President Lee Jae Myung met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday (local time) to discuss peace on the Korean Peninsula, as Lee is in the United States to attend the UN General Assembly.
Lee said his government is working to build a Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas can coexist peacefully and grow together, guided by the belief that "peace that makes fighting unnecessary is the most reliable security." He added that he looks forward to active cooperation with the UN in that process.
Guterres responded by acknowledging South Korea's constructive contributions across a range of areas, including international peace and security, sustainable development and climate action.
He also stressed that "the role of middle powers like South Korea becomes even more important as divisions and conflicts within the international community deepen."
Guterres went on to say he strongly supports the South Korean government's foreign policy agenda — particularly its policies aimed at peace on the Korean Peninsula — and pledged that the UN would continue to explore every possible role it could play in helping those efforts bear fruit.
sang@heraldcorp.com
