Tracking Number: 179396
Title: "South Korea Plans to Seek UN Membership."
South Korea says it intends to seek UN membership before the General Assembly opens its 46th annual session, according to recently appointed South Korean ambassador to the UN, Chang Hee Roe. (910407)
Author: NGUYEN, TUYET
Date: 19910407
Text:
*suf709
04/07/91
HSOUTH KOREA PLANS TO SEEK U.N. MEMBERSHIP
(South to apply with or without North) (420)
By Tuyet Nguyen
USIA Special Correspondent
United Nations -- South Korea says it intends to seek U.N. membership before the General Assembly opens its 46th annual session in mid-September.
South Korea's newly appointed U.N. Ambassador Chang Hee Roe has informed the president of the Security Council that his government is determined to enter the United Nations, whether or not South Korea and North Korea become unified.
In a memorandum released April 7 to the council's President Paul Noterdaeme, South Korea's government said, "The Republic of (South) Korea, as a peace-loving state willing and able to carry out all obligations set forth in the United Nations Charter, is fully qualified for membership in the United Nations."
North Korea has been consistently opposed to separate U.N. admission of the two Koreas. The communist regime in Pyongyang wants reunification of the two parts before they enter the United Nations as a single delegation.
Addressing the continued opposition by North Korea on the U.N. membership issue, the memorandum stated, "The Republic of Korea, exercising its sovereign right, will take the necessary step toward its membership before the opening of the 46th session of the General Assembly."
"In seeking U.N. membership, the Republic of Korea reiterates its earnest hope that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will also join the United Nations, either together with the south, or at a time the north deems appropriate," the memorandum said.
The memorandum also said, "Furthermore, the Republic of Korea holds the view that the parallel membership of both Koreas in the United Nations is entirely without prejudice to the ultimate objective of Korea's reunification."
Both South and North Korea have observer status in the General Assembly, which allows them to attend meetings, without the right to vote.
The five Security Council permanent members -- the United States, the Soviet Union, France, Britain and China -- must approve any application before presenting it to the whole 15-nation council. If approved by the council, the
GE 2 suf709 application must be sent to the 159-nation General Assembly for further approval.
Ambassador Roe said China remains the only likely obstacle, but China has been informed of his government's intention to apply in 1991. China and South Korea have no diplomatic relations except for a trade office in both capitals.
Seoul and Moscow established full diplomatic relations last year and Roe said the Soviet Union is "favorably disposed" to agree to South Korea's membership application.
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File Identification: 04/07/91, SU-709
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: KOREA (SOUTH)/Foreign Affairs; UNITED NATIONS; CHANG HEE ROE; KOREA
(NORTH)-KOREA (SOUTH) RELATIONS; REUNIFICATION (TERRITORY); NEGOTIATIONS; UNITED NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; CHINA-KOREA (SOUTH) RELATIONS
Thematic Codes: 140; 1UN
Target Areas: AF; AR; EA; EU; NE
PDQ Text
Link: 179396
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