Korea elected to UNSC, pledges to cooperate with China, Russia

The United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, on Tuesday. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Hwang Joon-kook said his country will be working closely not only with the United States and Japan but also with Russia and China on the UN Security Council to tackle the North Korean nuclear threats.

Hwang, immediately after South Korea was voted into the council as a non-permanent member, told the press in New York that while it is "not to be expected that Russia and China will change their stance" on North Korea just because South Korea is now on the council, Seoul will still try to encourage a coordinated response from the council on the North's continued military provocations.

"We will continue to communicate with the United States and Japan, as well as with China and Russia, and expand the scope of our cooperation on the council," he said.

South Korea was elected a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, set to serve from 2024 to 2025.

It will be joining the council following rising security threats from North Korea, which tested a record number of ballistic missiles last year and even attempted to launch a satellite into space this year.

The security council, which has regularly issued sanctions on the North for its military provocations since 2006, failed to vote on a resolution last May when Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution put forward by the United States.

Hwang also noted that it was the first time in 27 years that South Korea, the United States and Japan were a member of the council at the same time, expressing hopes for stronger trilateral cooperation on tackling North Korean security threats.

Korea on the council will also cooperate actively on discussions around peacekeeping, gender equality, climate and cybersecurity, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Park Jin issued a statement shortly after Korea was voted in.

"I am honored to announce that Korea was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-25 term," Park made the announcement on Twitter shortly after midnight Wednesday. "As we aspire to become a Global Pivotal State (GPS), we will spare no effort in promoting freedom, peace and prosperity across the world."

President Yoon Suk Yeol also issued a congratulatory remark Wednesday, calling the election a "diplomatic victory" given that 180 out of 192 members of the United Nations voted for South Korea's inclusion as a non-permanent member of the council from 2024 to 2025 on Tuesday.

Korea was the only Asian candidate for the two-year term on the council as a non-permanent member. Korea previously served in the position from 2013 to 2014 and from 1996 to 1997.

The non-permanent council members for the 2022-23 term include Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, and for the 2023-24 term Switzerland, Ecuador, Japan and Malta.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]