South Korea will undertake the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) next month for the first time in a decade, Seoul’s top envoy to the U.N. said Thursday, unveiling plans to push for in-depth discussions on cybersecurity and other global issues.
In a press meeting, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said that South Korea, a nonpermanent UNSC member, will hold the presidency for one month — a position that rotates among the council’s 15 member states on a monthly basis. Seoul last held the UNSC presidency in May 2014.
Portraying the presidency as an “important” role in coordinating the UNSC agenda, Hwang said that in the position, South Korea will be ready to convene a UNSC meeting in the event of North Korean provocations if necessary.
“The country holding the presidency gets the primary authority to make decisions on what agenda the UNSC will discuss and in which way (discussions are conducted) through consultations with member states,” Hwang told reporters.
“Thus, its role is important given that it can affect the direction of discussions on key global issues and international opinion,” he added.