By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The 16th Executive Committee meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Asia–Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum was held in Seoul, where participants discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between the countries of the region and the Republic of Korea. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Forum Secretariat, and the Embassies of the Central Asian countries. The agenda covered the 2025 activities of the Secretariat and the main priorities for 2026, including preparations for the first Central Asia
By UN Journal Kayla Lee At the 80th session of the UNGA First Committee, two resolutions submitted by the Republic of Korea (ROK) were adopted on Thursday, November 6, with overwhelming support from UN Member States: “Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security,” co-tabled by the ROK and the Netherlands, and “Youth, Disarmament and Non-proliferation,” tabled solely by the ROK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The “Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security” resolution
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo A solemn event dedicated to 8 November-Victory Day was held in Seoul, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Korea. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Korea, Ramin Hasanov, delivered a heartfelt speech to those gathered at the event. He began by emphasizing that Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War in 2020 not only ended occupation of Azerbaijani territories after more than 30 years of historical injustice, but also created the conditions necessary for peace in the region. He explained that the end of the occupation
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first telephone conversation with Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on November 5, exchanging views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Minister Cho noted the strengthening of substantive cooperation between South Korea and Finland in areas such as the defense industry and key minerals, and expressed his hope that they would deepen cooperation across all sectors through active high-level exchanges. Minister Valtonen congratulated Minister Cho on his inauguration and praised South Korea's successful
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young held a meeting with the new EU Ambassador to South Korea Ugo Astuto on Nov. 5 and requested the EU Ambassador to appoint an EU-level special envoy for the Korean Peninsula. During a meeting with Ambassador Astuto at the Government Complex Seoul that morning, Minister Chung explained the Seoul government's policy initiatives to restore trust and foster a peaceful environment between the two Koreas. He stated, "Dialogue and negotiation are necessary to transform the Korean Peninsula into a peaceful environment," and requested act
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov. 2 and agreed to establish a "strategic partnership" between the two countries, deepening cooperation in the areas of economy and security. Following the summit with Prime Minister Wong at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, President Lee issued a joint press release stating, "We agreed that the international order that has supported global growth and prosperity is being shaken, and that strategic cooperation between our two countries is crucial in the face of global challenge
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Minsk, the capital of Belarus. For those living here, Lake Zaslavskaye is simply a nearby retreat. However, the lake, nicknamed the "Minsk Sea," has become a magnet for both city dwellers and tourists. Located just 5km from downtown Minsk, the lake offers the perfect escape for those seeking a seaside escape in the city. Lake Zaslavskaye was created in 1956 to prevent flooding and secure water resources. This artificial reservoir, created at the time, has held special significance from its very existence. Covering an area of approximately 31.1 squ
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah The monument, located near the Brest Fortress in Belarus, is a symbolic site of significance and historical importance during World War II. This monument is more than just a stone and iron structure; it serves as an unforgettable reminder of sacrifice and courage for those who love Belarus and its history. The Battle of the Brest Fortress was a fierce battle that took place in 1941 during the Nazi German invasion. Soviet troops and local residents risked their lives to defend the fortress and fight against the invaders. Their indomitable spirit re
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first summit on Nov. 1 with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was visiting South Korea as a state guest for the first time in 11 years. The summit focused on establishing a direction for the development of South Korea-China relations that would contribute substantially to the livelihoods of the people of both countries, based on the shared understanding between the two leaders that "people's livelihoods are paramount." The South Korea-China summit featured in-depth discussions on a variety of pending issues, including ways to strengt
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Minsk, Belarus-- On October 29, 2025, an official meeting was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. Five officials, including Deputy Minister Oleg Andreychik, and a delegation from the Republic of Korea were present. This meeting was a meaningful opportunity to discuss expanding tourism exchanges and cultural cooperation between Korea and Belarus. In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Minister Andreychik introduced Belarus as "a treasure trove of culture and nature located in the heart of Europe."
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first summit with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on October 27. President Lee expressed his deep gratitude for his visit to Malaysia, the ASEAN chair this year and a long-standing friendly nation, as his first ASEAN country since taking office. Prime Minister Anwar expressed his gratitude for President Lee's visit, despite his busy schedule preparing for the APEC summit. Prime Minister Anwar further expressed his appreciation for President Lee's visit to Malaysia, saying it will provide a significant impetus for advancing Kor
By UN Journal Kayla Lee President Lee Jae-myung held a dinner-and-meeting with Koreans in Malaysia on October 26, titled "A New History We Write Together, the Real Republic of Korea," in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, and offered words of encouragement to Koreans living there. The meeting, part of President Lee's visit to Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit, was attended by approximately 200 people from various walks of life, including representatives of Korean community organizations, businesspeople, Korean language school officials, artists, and international organizations. In his congratulatory remarks
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung, currently in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on October 27 (local time) to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries and responding to online scams. President Lee held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur that day. He expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown to the Korean delegation during their recent visit to Cambodia regarding online scams. He said, "In South Korea, the entire nation is very
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Hungary in Korea hosted a reception to celebrate the National Day commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 at the Pullman Hotel in Seoul on Oct. 22, 2025. Delivering congratulatory remarks, Amb. Istvan Szerdahelyi of Hungary in Seoul said, “October 23, 1956 is one of the most significant days in Hungary's history, a day when our nation stood against dictatorship, Soviet military occupation in the fight for freedom. And the date marks more than just an important event for Hungary and it was a historical milestone that contributed to shaping the Eur
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young Recent consecutive kidnappings and detentions targeting Koreans in Cambodia have escalated beyond mere public safety concerns, shaking the diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cambodia. Particularly as these incidents are revealed to be the work of international criminal organizations colluding with Cambodia's corrupt authorities, the gravity of the situation is escalating toward potential international sanctions against Cambodia. This shocking crisis is shaking the very foundation of South Korea's core diplomatic policy, the ‘New Southern Policy,’ which has