Yoon meets with UN chief, discusses North Korea, Ukraine

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, shakes hands with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of their talks at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday in New York and discussed global security matters, including the Korean Peninsula issue and the war in Ukraine.

Yoon said he looks forward to continuing cooperation with the United Nations to prevent Pyongyang's provocations and to substantially improve North Korea's human rights situation, according to the presidential office.

He also explained South Korea's plans to contribute to establishing peace in Ukraine amid Russia's war in the country, calling it the biggest global issue.

The meeting took place during Yoon's five-day trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is set to give an address Wednesday.

Yoon stressed to the UN chief the importance of global solidarity centered on the United Nations in today's polycrisis era and reiterated South Korea's commitment to fulfilling a "responsible role" befitting its international status.

He also expressed South Korea's commitment to actively promoting peace in the international community as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council.

South Korea was elected in June as a nonpermanent United Nations Security Council member for a two-year term starting next year. South Korea has served on the Security Council three times, the last time being 11 years ago, during the 2013 to 2014 term.

Guterres said he looks forward to closer communication to resolve major international issues during South Korea's tenure as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council, according to the presidential office.

He also reaffirmed his will to cooperate for North Korea's denuclearization and the improvement of human rights in the country.

This marked the third meeting between Yoon and Guterres, which the presidential office described as an opportunity to strengthen the cooperative relationship between South Korea and the United Nations, including on North Korean and global issues.

Yoon also held a series of bilateral meetings on Tuesday with leaders of countries including Ghana, Monaco, Ivory Coast and Belize, as well as International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]