SEOUL, September 3 (AJP) - South Korea on Tuesday (local time) began its one-month term as president of the United Nations Security Council, confirming the agenda for September and taking up the role of chairing the council's meetings.
As its main event, South Korea will hold a high-level open debate on artificial intelligence and its implications for international peace and security. President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to preside over the session on September 24 at UN headquarters in New York. It will be the first time a South Korean president has chaired a Security Council meeting.
Speaking to reporters after closed consultations, Ambassador Kim said South Korea’s history embodies the UN’s three core pillars of peace, development, and human rights. "These values are deeply embedded in our national DNA," he said. "As president of the council, South Korea will provide leadership based on efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness."
President Lee will already be in New York for the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, which begins on September 23. He is expected to deliver a keynote speech that day. Ambassador Kim said the council’s focus on AI is timely. "The Security Council has already held two meetings on AI since 2023, considering how fast it is developing and spreading worldwide. We think a high-level debate is necessary to maximize benefits and minimize risks," he said.
Unlike June 2024, when South Korea last held the presidency and convened a meeting on North Korea’s human rights situation, no North Korea-related meetings are scheduled for September. Kim noted that the council is ready to respond if necessary. "There is no plan for a North Korea meeting this month, but if it conducts an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or other provocation, we are prepared to convene," he said.
During its term, South Korea is also expected to oversee discussions on major international issues such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, including matters related to Palestine and Iran.
The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful body with primary responsibility for international peace and security. It is made up of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The presidency rotates monthly in alphabetical order among the members.
The council president chairs both official and informal meetings, represents the council to other UN bodies, and has a central role in setting the agenda. This gives the presiding country influence over the direction of discussions and the shaping of international opinion.
South Korea is serving as a non-permanent member for the 2024 to 2025 term. This is its first time holding the presidency since June 2024.
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