Ban accents Korea’s ‘catalyst’ role

UN chief considers trip to North Korea to help promote peace

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. (Photo : Yonhap)

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for Korea to act as a catalyst on the world stage on U.N. targets such as sustainable development, Tuesday.

In a speech to the National Assembly plenary session, Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, reiterated that he was mulling a trip to North Korea if Pyongyang meets certain conditions.

Ban said Seoul was well positioned to spearhead work on U.N. goals including sustainable development, conflict management and the establishment of human rights and democracy, citing the country’s experience in each of the areas.

“Because Korea is an unprecedented model in the world in achieving these tasks, it can now play the role of catalyst in mobilizing the international community,” he
said.

“In the past we came to the table as a beneficiary, but now we are there as a contributor,” he added, citing Seoul’s rise from an aid recipient to host of global events such as the G20 Summit in 2010.

He also cited Seoul’s recent successes in becoming a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and host to the U.N. Green Climate Fund as signs of the nation’s growing clout.

His speech came during a four-day trip to his home country ― which wraps up today ― to receive the biennial Seoul Peace prize.

On North Korea, he said he was “considering visiting North Korea as soon as conditions are met” in a bid to promote peace on the peninsula.
He called on the North ­ led by the young Kim Jong-un – to come into line with international norms.

“I hope North Korea’s new leadership will be a responsible member of the international community by responding to calls for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and taking the initiative of improving the lives of the people,” Ban said.

Despite a leadership change following the death of the late Kim Jong-il, the international community remains concerned over the same problems in the North, from malnutrition to an increasingly sophisticated nuclear program.

Ban also called on Korea to play a leading role bolstering cooperation in Northeast Asia, which is stymied by spats over maritime territory and historical matters.

“Multilateralism is necessary in this course (of cooperation), and South Korea plays a bridge role,” he said.

The spats between Japan and China over an archipelago in the East China Sea and between Seoul and Tokyo over the Dokdo Islets have started to take a toll on economic ties, causing concern throughout the region.