President Lee Jae-myung, who is visiting New York, United States, to attend the 80th U.N. General Assembly, met with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on the 23rd (local time) and reaffirmed the United Nations' intention for close cooperation and support on the Korean Peninsula issue. It was the second time the two had met since they chatted at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada in June.
Guterres said he would "strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the Korean government" and assessed the Lee Jae-myung government's North Korea policy as a "wise approach," the presidential office said. Earlier, in his keynote address to the General Assembly that day, Lee said ▲ to respect the North Korean regime, ▲ not to pursue any form of absorption unification, and ▲ to have no intention of engaging in any hostile acts. These are the "three principles" Lee presented in the Aug. 15 Liberation Day address.
Guterres went on to say that "at a time when the international community is divided, the Korean government is making an important contribution by voicing a wise and balanced view at the United Nations," adding that "on humanitarian assistance, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), human rights, and responses to key issues such as Gaza and Ukraine, Korea is a trusted partner."
In response, Lee said, "The secretary-general is leading the United Nations, the center of the multilateral cooperation framework, despite difficult conditions," adding, "At a time when confrontation and conflict in the international community are deepening and expanding into disputes, the role of the United Nations is more important than ever." He also said, "Korea developed from an aid recipient to a donor under the support of the United Nations," adding, "We will play a greater role in responding to the challenges of the international community."
He also asked for the United Nations' support for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee said, "Peace and security on the Korean Peninsula are linked to the peace and security of the entire international community," and asked, "Please help us move beyond conflict and confrontation toward a forum for dialogue and cooperation." In particular, he asked the secretary-general to take an interest in expanding the advancement of Korean talent into international organizations.
The two will meet again on the 24th at an open high-level debate of the U.N. Security Council chaired by Lee. This is the first time a Korean head of state has chaired an open debate in the capacity of president of the Security Council. The topic is "the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on international peace and security," and Secretary-General Guterres is also scheduled to attend.