Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong on Dec. 7 delivers the opening address at the 2021 Seoul U.N. (United Nations) Peacekeeping Ministerial at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in the city's Yongsan-gu District. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Lee Kyoung Mi and Yoon Sojung

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong on Dec. 7 said, "The government is hoping to bring an end to this unnatural state of an ongoing 68-year Armistice and replace it with a more permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

In his opening speech at the 2021 Seoul U.N. (United Nations) Peacekeeping Ministerial, he said, "An armistice can halt the hostilities, but it does not end the war nor establish peace."

"Many of you are familiar with the adage 'Freedom is not free.' I would venture to add that 'Peace is not free.' It requires an unwavering commitment and willingness to act."

"In Korea, this holds true as any other," he added. "I believe that the Korean people deserve no less."

Minister Chung also announced at the opening ceremony the Seoul Initiative on Technology and Medical Capacity-building in Peacekeeping as the main theme of this year's ministerial.

Expressing Korea's commitment to helping raise peacekeeping technology and medical capacity, the initiative features nine priorities requiring require the participation of and support from member countries such as building smart camps, running pilot programs, training for technology use and offering expert pools.

Seoul will provide USD 1 million to convert U.N. peacekeeping bases into smart camps and build a casualty tracking system. The government will also urgently offer 16 helicopters for U.N. peacekeeping in Africa, provide equipment and training for mine removal and deploy more police to respond to cybercrimes.

Minister of National Defense Suh Wook in the event's second session announced six government pledges in his keynote speech: leading the transition to smart camps; strengthening medical and quarantine capacity; providing 16 helicopters; sharing the country's experience in managing non-combat troops; raising the capacity of female agents; and dispatch experts and police.

km137426@korea.kr