The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said on the 6th, that he intended to play the role of a facilitator because he believed that in such relations it is desirable for the both Koreas to solve inter-Korean.
Secretary-General Ban had a breakfast meeting with the Minister of Unification Kim Ha Joong at the Seoul Hyatt Hotel and said that, regarding normalizing relations, “We have been negotiating to the same end with the North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations.”
He guaranteed, “I will try to conduct what I am expected to do and if there is a place for me, I will work in close cooperation with the government.”
He said that he thought “It was meaningful that I visited South Korea when there has been positive progress in the North Korean nuclear issue.” He came away with the expectation that North-South Korea relations will incorporate that positive atmosphere to the maximum and will progress even further.”
Moreover, the Secretary-General also said, “All countries of the world are striving to overcome the threat of increasing oil and grain prices and are cooperating with other countries, but it is unfortunate that inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation between the North and South are not progressing well.”
He requested that he hope that North-South Korean dialogue will be quickly reestablished and that they will cooperate to overcome the challenges and threats being felt by all the countries around the world, although that is not presently feasible. The role of the United Nations is important and the Secretary-General has many hats to fill, so there is an expectation that the Secretary-General will play an important role in improving North-South Korea relations.
Meanwhile, an affiliate with the Ministry of Unification said, “Minister Kim emphasized to Secretary-General Ban the importance of dialogue for improving relations and explained that through North-South cooperation and mutual prosperity through coexistence, peace and safety on the peninsula, and benefit and happiness to all North and South Korean citizens, will be realized.”
The Ministry of Unification source relayed regarding Secretary-General Ban, “He evaluated the progress in the North Korean nuclear issue and expressed agreement regarding the importance of inter-Korean dialogue. Moving forward, he replied that he will play a role as the UN Secretary-General to aid progress in North-South Korean relations and for peace on the peninsula.”
Park In Gook, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Kim Won Soo, the UN Senior Advisor to the Secretary General, Kim Chun Shik, the Unification Policy Office Director, Kim Jung Soo, the Humanitarian Cooperation Office Director, Oh Jun, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Convention Section Chief, Song Young Wan, the International Organization Policy Director, and others were also present at the meeting.
