The two-day 2021 Seoul U.N. (United Nations) Peacekeeping Ministerial was opened on Dec. 7 to gather global commitment to help U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKO).
The gathering is the highest-ranking cooperative body related to U.N. peace and security, with Korea being the first Asian country to host the event.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense, this year's ministerial will be attended by 155 countries, including member states of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations (C34) of the U.N.: the U.S., Russia, China, Germany and the U.K.
Representatives from 76 countries will exchange opinions on the cross-cutting issue "Technology and Medical Capacity Building."
The discussion will be online and is viewable from the event's official website (www.unpko2021.kr).
On the event's first day, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will deliver a video greeting, followed by opening speeches from Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong and Minister of National Defense Suh Wook.
Minister Chung will chair the first session on "Sustaining Peace." Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Ak Abdul Momen will deliver a keynote speech, followed by representatives from China, the U.K. and Canada announcing contribution pledges.
The second session will be chaired by U.N. Under Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare and attended by representatives from Japan, Germany and member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO.
In the same session, Minister Suh will announce Korea's contribution pledge in a keynote address. His speech will include Korea's pledges to provide the U.N. with "smart camp" models and reconnaissance helicopters to improve safety and the working environment of six PKO groups in Africa.
The next day, attendees will discuss the theme "Performance and Accountability" in the third session and "Protection of Civilians and Safety and Security” in the fourth, followed by the closing ceremony.
Since joining the U.N. in September 1991, Korea has contributed to PKO including deployment of the Sangnoksu Unit to Somalia. As of August this year, Korea ranked 10th in financial contributions to the world body and 37th in troop deployment.
