United Nations headquarters in New York (UN Media's official website)

By Kim Hyelin

The country has proven its status as a "global pivotal state" ahead of the Dec. 31 expiration of its two-year term in New York as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Over its term, Korea has emerged as both a core member of the UNSC, which plays a major role in international peace and security beyond the Korean Peninsula, and a leader in setting and leading talks on global agenda.

As of Dec. 21, Seoul was actively involved in the adoption processes of 87 UNSC resolutions with binding force under international law, punctuating its substantial influence. It also chaired committees on sanctions on Yemen and Sudan to lead efforts toward the monitoring of implementation.

As the chair of the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations (PKO), Korea helped raise the effectiveness of PKO to maintain and build peace around the world. Through the final day of its term, Seoul fulfilled its duty to respond to international threats by voting on extending the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate under the UNSC.

Other achievements include upgrading artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity to core agenda in global politics. In September, President Lee Jae Myung became the nation's first leader and chaired a UNSC meeting to discuss "AI and International Peace and Security," marking a critical juncture in defining AI as both a security threat and opportunity.

In June, Seoul led a public discussion on threats in cyberspace to global peace and security, leading the way toward setting up an international order on the invisible digital battlefield.

U.N. assessment of Korea's UNSC role was also positive. The U.N. Secretariat and its member states unanimously agreed on Korea's substantial and active contributions to conflict response, PKO and peacebuilding, nonproliferation and counterterrorism in regions like the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul called such high-level talks on AI "highly meaningful" in providing an opportunity to expand AI beyond the technological level to a global security agenda.

The ministry said this latest UNSC term helped expand its diplomatic horizons from the peninsula to the world. Even after its membership ends, it added, the plan is to keep promoting international peace and U.N. activity based on cooperation with the world body and its member states.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr