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Next UN Secretary-General calls for more int’l Korean involvement
Future Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon met with Envoy for International Security and professor at Yonsei University Moon Chung-in on October 30 through the offices of this reporter, a day before the announcement that the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program would resume. During the interview, Minister Ban displayed a strong willpower to push forward UN reforms, stating, "I will completely change the culture of the UN...I will work to create a UN reborn as an organization that enjoys much greater international confidence." He continued, emphasizing, "I will make the UN into a body fit to deal with the challenges and themes of the 21st century. I will make certain that the UN has a role at the center of multilateral diplomacy." In regards to the North Korean nuclear issue, Ban repeated his vow to "appoint a politician or diplomat with the confidence of the international community, someone who has the trust of both North and South Korea to actively push the issue forward." He continued, saying that such an envoy "must be prepared to play a direct role when necessary."Ban plans to travel to New York on November 15 and begin preparations for his inauguration. During the interview, he emphasized that Korea must contribute actively to the UN, and showed a priority for pursuing policies of development and shared prosperity as embodied in such projects as development aid for Africa. Following this, he emphasized international peace and security, as well as the extension of human rights. On the day of the interview, envoy Moon asked Minister Ban questions regarding the UN’s role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, personnel issues during the first 100 days after taking office, UN Security Council reform, UN reform in general, tackling leadership issues facing the Secretary-General, as well as his vision for the future. In regards to the observation that the Secretary-General and the U.S. are often at odds, Ban said, "The UN needs the U.S., and the U.S. needs the UN." Brimming with self-confidence, he declared, "I will harmonize U.S.-UN relations better than any other Secretary General could." When asked what is necessary to raise Korea’s international status, Ban responded, "currently, there are but 31 Koreans among the 92,000 UN peacekeepers stationed in 16 separate regions. As the nation chosen to supply the UN Secretary-General, I think that [South Korea’s] weak level of contribution and willpower are unbefitting." He continued, urging, "our people must broaden their perspective on international issues." This article was written by Gang Tae-ho and Park Min-hi, and translated by Daniel Rakove
