By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with the U.S. ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg on Dec. 9 to explain the state of affairs following the emergency martial law. According to the Prime Minister's Office on Dec. 10, Prime Minister Han met with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the Seoul Government Complex the previous afternoon and told him that the Seoul government is “fully committed to running the country based on the Constitution and laws.” “Please actively inform the international community through various channels, including overseas diplomatic missions and
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Dec. 8. As reports continued to emerge from the Syrian capital, Damascus, where opposition forces declared victory overnight on State television, the UN chief said in a statement: The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine. There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions, Mr. Guterres, and n
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Chem and the extrusion machine manufacturer Reifenhäuser have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), confirming further extensive cooperation on Nov. 28, 2024. The aim is to further develop and market competitive Machine Direction Oriented (MDO)-PE blown films and flat films for recyclable packaging. The partners are building on a successful track record: In May 2024, the companies had presented the world's first MDO-PE film only 18 micrometers (µm) , which had been produced on an EVO Ultra Stretch blown film line from Reifenhäuser with specially developed PE
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF), led by Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, invited Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima to discuss the direction of economic cooperation between Korea and Japan on Nov. 12. “If Korean and Japanese companies work together to contribute to the stability of the international supply chain and strengthen cooperation in the field of new technologies, it will contribute to global peace and prosperity,” said KEF Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik at a meeting held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. “Recently, Korean and Japanese companies h
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Following another year of record-high global heat and extreme weather events, UN climate chief Simon Stiell told negotiators at COP29 in Baku that setting an ambitious new climate finance target is crucial for the well-being of all nations, including the wealthiest and most powerful, the UN News reported. “Let’s dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity;” runaway climate change is impacting “every single individual in the world one way or another,” Mr. Stiell said on Nov. 11. His strong call to action kicked off the latest round of UN climate talks, which
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Ghana remains an attractive destination for investments in the sub region. Having developed and grown our democracy and political stability tremendously over the past three decades, our efforts at trade and industrial development have also seen good progress,” said H.E. Amb. Charis Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes of Ghana to Korea. In a recent interview with the Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes said, “In keeping with Ghana’s long-term vision of achieving resilient economic development, the government has consistently pursued an export diversification drive t
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo "The Israeli army’s killing of journalists in Gaza is “unacceptable”, calling for their protection from the genocide committing in the Gaza Strip," said United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. His remarks were made in a message sent to the UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East 2024 held at the UN office in Geneva on Nov. 1. He stated that the war on Gaza completed its first year last month and that this symposium is being held under “profoundly difficult circumstances” due to the violations extending to Lebanon. The secretary-gener
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Oct. 13 reiterated that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed, following the deliberate breach of a UN peacekeeping position by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) armored vehicles in southern Lebanon, the UN News reported. The incident took place early on Sunday morning (local time), when two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate and forcibly entered the position, according to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. About two hours later, after the tanks had left, several rounds were fired nearby, emitti
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo In Tashkent the 12th Congress of the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” was held. It was attended by delegates elected from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions, and the city of Tashkent, representatives of the Political Council, members of the Central Audit Commission, and the party faction in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, party activists, and media workers. The participants summed up the party’s activities for 2020-2024 and identified priority tasks for the future. As noted, the number of SDPU “Adolat” members of Uzbekistan during the re
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The 14th Congress of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan was held. Important issues regarding the party’s participation in the election and the new election program were discussed. Ulugbek Inoyatov, Chairman of the Central Council of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, gave a presentation on the urgent task of ensuring the party’s proper and active participation in the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and the local Councils of People’s Deputies. “The party set 82 goals, and more than 70 have been implemented, marking significant
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Seoul hosted a reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 26. The event commemorated the deep friendship and cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea, and was attended by more than 700 guests from all walks of life. “On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was established, marking a new beginning for the Chinese people, ushering in a new era of independence, sovereignty, and progress, and following a path
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Despite the geographical distance, and having cultures and societies so strikingly different from each other, Brazil and Korea have forged in these six and a half decades a solid path of mutual achievements that include vibrant partnership in trade, investment, political dialogue and cooperation,” said Ambassador Marcia Donner Abreu of Brazil to Korea at a reception on Sept. 25. Delivering address at the reception to celebrate 202 years of Brazil’s independence and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea, Amb. Donner Abre
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “I invite Korean and other foreign investors to explore opportunities in Nepal’s promising sectors, like energy, agriculture, information technology, tourism, infrastructure, and manufacturing,” said Pushpa Raj Bhattarai, Chargé' d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Nepal in Seoul on Sept. 24. Delivering remarks at the reception to mark the 10th National Day of Nepal, which is celebrated as the Constitution Day in commemoration of the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal on September 20, 2015, Pushpa Raj Bhattarai said, “The Government of Nepal is dedicated to accel
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Culinary diplomacy is my tool as food plays a significant role in connecting people. I tried to introduce Africa's rich traditions and diversity through food,” said the spouse of the Tanzanian Ambassador to Korea and author of the book "The Tastes of East Africa: Uncovering Culture Through Cuisine.” In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal, Chaba Rhuwanya Mavura said, “I think this cookbook has been published at the right time when the Korea-Africa Summit was held in June, which was the very first summit of its kind between our nations, it is quite clear that
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Umida Tukhtasheva, Doctor of Law, Professor, Deputy Director, the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the UN Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. In the process of development and formation, in a period when all countries constantly intensifying political, economic, social and other relations both within the country and beyond, the national security becomes the foremost. The key tracks in ensuring national security are transformations in the main areas (social, economic,