SEOUL – South Korea will take on the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of September, marking the country's fifth time holding the position since joining the UN in 1991. The last time South Korea held the presidency was 15 months ago, in June 2024.
As one of the 15 member states of the UNSC, the presidency rotates monthly among the member nations in alphabetical order. The presiding country is responsible for chairing all official and informal meetings and representing the Council to other UN member states and organizations. The role grants the country significant influence over the agenda and direction of international discussions on peace and security.
South Korea's presidency is expected to allow it to shape the discourse and influence global opinion on pressing international issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to tradition, the presiding country can host a "Signature Event" on an issue of particular importance to its foreign policy. The think tank "Security Council Report (SCR)" indicates that South Korea plans to hold a high-level open debate on artificial intelligence (AI) during its term. This follows the country's previous signature event in June 2024, which focused on threats in cyberspace.
With the position of South Korea's Permanent Representative to the UN currently vacant, Ambassador Kim Sang-jin, the Deputy Permanent Representative, is scheduled to preside over the key meetings.
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