Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Foreign and defense ministries discuss ways to strengthen UN peacekeeping operations

The 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial served as a concentration of practical contributions from countries around the world

The 2021 Seoul United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense, held its two-day meeting from Tuesday, December 7 to Wednesday, December 8.

The meeting was attended by delegates from 155 member states of the Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) Special Committee　affiliated with the UN General Assembly via a video link. At the meeting, delegates from a total of 74 states, the EU, and NATO made remarks, with 60 states among them announcing pledges for contributions, including providing strategic assets, dispatch of troops, and providing a training curriculum, in order to enhance and strengthen PKO. 

This meeting lasted for two days. It started with an opening ceremony, which was followed by four plenary sessions and a closing ceremony. At the first session held on Tuesday evening, December 7, participants discussed ways to strengthen the role of the PKO mission for the establishment of peace in the medium and long term, with the agenda of ‘maintenance of peace’ under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong. At the second session, delegates from each of the countries, including Minister Suh, presented specific measures, such as strengthening partnerships between countries, and offering strategic assets including helicopters, in order to strengthen the effectiveness of PKO mission accomplishment, with the goal of ‘strengthening partnership, training, and capabilities.’