Oct. 14 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations said the government has not decided whether to seek U.N. Security Council action over a land mine explosion near the Demilitarized Zone involving North Korea.
Ambassador Cha Ji-hoon told South Korean lawmakers during a parliamentary audit in New York on Tuesday that Seoul had not established a strategy for bringing the matter before the Security Council.
He also acknowledged that he had not discussed the incident with the United States or other Security Council members.
Lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party criticized what they described as an inadequate diplomatic response to North Korea’s actions and questioned Cha’s qualifications as ambassador.
Cha defended his efforts, saying he had raised North Korea’s responsibility at the U.N. General Assembly and called for an apology.
Opposition questions absence of Security Council consultations
During an audit conducted by the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at South Korea’s U.N. mission in New York, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gunn described the mine explosion as a serious matter affecting the Korean War armistice.
Kim linked the incident to North Korea’s ongoing fortification of the inter-Korean border and questioned whether Seoul intended to bring it before the Security Council.
“How we will approach the matter has not yet been decided,” Cha replied.
“The government has not yet made a strategic decision.”
Cha said he had not consulted U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz or representatives of other Security Council member countries about the incident.
Kim, a former career diplomat, criticized the lack of consultations.
“How can you make a judgment if you do nothing?” Kim asked.
He argued that the ambassador should meet other countries’ representatives to determine whether the matter could be discussed at the Security Council.
The results of those discussions could then be reported to Seoul to help the government make an informed decision, Kim said.
Another People Power Party lawmaker, Ko Dong-jin, asked whether the ambassador had tried to secure international action without success or had made no effort.
Cha defended his record, saying he had condemned North Korean provocations whenever opportunities arose at the Security Council or General Assembly.
Ambassador points to General Assembly statement
Cha cited his address to the U.N. General Assembly’s First Committee on Thursday as evidence of South Korea’s diplomatic response.
During the committee’s general debate, he raised concerns about North Korea’s land mine activities and called for an apology.
“I believe remarks at the General Assembly actually have somewhat greater impact than a letter to the Security Council,” Cha said.
Lawmakers also questioned why the South Korean mission had not directly challenged North Korea’s response during the same committee proceedings.
North Korea had cited remarks by South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young in an effort to deny responsibility for the explosion.
When Kim asked why South Korea had not responded, Cha said he did not consider the North Korean statement worthy of particular attention.
Ambassador’s diplomatic qualifications draw scrutiny
Lawmakers also challenged Cha’s qualifications and the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon cited Cha’s previous work as an attorney for President Lee Jae-myung and questioned whether personal ties to the president had influenced his selection.
“Was an amateur appointed to a position that requires the highest level of diplomatic professionalism?” Han asked.
Cha rejected the characterization.
“Since arriving here, I have found that many ambassadors are not career diplomats,” he said.
Han also raised questions about whether Cha’s daughter’s residence in New York had been a factor in his diplomatic assignment.
He questioned whether it was appropriate for an adult child who had previously lived independently to reside with the ambassador at the official residence in Manhattan.
Cha said his daughter had already been working in New York before his appointment.
“Under the regulations, unmarried children are permitted to live together,” he replied.
Ruling party calls for closer coordination
Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party took a different approach, urging Cha to work closely with South Korea’s diplomatic headquarters and other overseas missions.
Democratic Party lawmaker Maeng Sung-kyu asked about strategies for achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
He acknowledged that an ambassador would have difficulty independently pursuing such a policy without coordinating with the government.
“It would be difficult for the ambassador to pursue such matters unilaterally based on his own position,” Maeng said.
He urged Cha to work through South Korea’s ambassador to the United States and the Foreign Ministry to communicate Seoul’s position.
The parliamentary hearing highlighted disagreements over the government’s diplomatic response to North Korean military activities near the border and the appropriate role of its U.N. mission.
The government has not announced a decision on whether it will formally seek Security Council discussions concerning the mine explosion.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20261015010004544
- Topics
- Politics
Oct. 14 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations said the government has not decided whether to seek U.N. Security Council action over a land mine explosion near the Demilitarized Zone involving North Korea.
Ambassador Cha Ji-hoon told South Korean lawmakers during a parliamentary audit in New York on Tuesday that Seoul had not established a strategy for bringing the matter before the Security Council.
He also acknowledged that he had not discussed the incident with the United States or other Security Council members.
Lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party criticized what they described as an inadequate diplomatic response to North Korea’s actions and questioned Cha’s qualifications as ambassador.
Cha defended his efforts, saying he had raised North Korea’s responsibility at the U.N. General Assembly and called for an apology.
Opposition questions absence of Security Council consultations
During an audit conducted by the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at South Korea’s U.N. mission in New York, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gunn described the mine explosion as a serious matter affecting the Korean War armistice.
Kim linked the incident to North Korea’s ongoing fortification of the inter-Korean border and questioned whether Seoul intended to bring it before the Security Council.
“How we will approach the matter has not yet been decided,” Cha replied.
“The government has not yet made a strategic decision.”
Cha said he had not consulted U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz or representatives of other Security Council member countries about the incident.
Kim, a former career diplomat, criticized the lack of consultations.
“How can you make a judgment if you do nothing?” Kim asked.
He argued that the ambassador should meet other countries’ representatives to determine whether the matter could be discussed at the Security Council.
The results of those discussions could then be reported to Seoul to help the government make an informed decision, Kim said.
Another People Power Party lawmaker, Ko Dong-jin, asked whether the ambassador had tried to secure international action without success or had made no effort.
Cha defended his record, saying he had condemned North Korean provocations whenever opportunities arose at the Security Council or General Assembly.
Ambassador points to General Assembly statement
Cha cited his address to the U.N. General Assembly’s First Committee on Thursday as evidence of South Korea’s diplomatic response.
During the committee’s general debate, he raised concerns about North Korea’s land mine activities and called for an apology.
“I believe remarks at the General Assembly actually have somewhat greater impact than a letter to the Security Council,” Cha said.
Lawmakers also questioned why the South Korean mission had not directly challenged North Korea’s response during the same committee proceedings.
North Korea had cited remarks by South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young in an effort to deny responsibility for the explosion.
When Kim asked why South Korea had not responded, Cha said he did not consider the North Korean statement worthy of particular attention.
Ambassador’s diplomatic qualifications draw scrutiny
Lawmakers also challenged Cha’s qualifications and the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon cited Cha’s previous work as an attorney for President Lee Jae-myung and questioned whether personal ties to the president had influenced his selection.
“Was an amateur appointed to a position that requires the highest level of diplomatic professionalism?” Han asked.
Cha rejected the characterization.
“Since arriving here, I have found that many ambassadors are not career diplomats,” he said.
Han also raised questions about whether Cha’s daughter’s residence in New York had been a factor in his diplomatic assignment.
He questioned whether it was appropriate for an adult child who had previously lived independently to reside with the ambassador at the official residence in Manhattan.
Cha said his daughter had already been working in New York before his appointment.
“Under the regulations, unmarried children are permitted to live together,” he replied.
Ruling party calls for closer coordination
Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party took a different approach, urging Cha to work closely with South Korea’s diplomatic headquarters and other overseas missions.
Democratic Party lawmaker Maeng Sung-kyu asked about strategies for achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
He acknowledged that an ambassador would have difficulty independently pursuing such a policy without coordinating with the government.
“It would be difficult for the ambassador to pursue such matters unilaterally based on his own position,” Maeng said.
He urged Cha to work through South Korea’s ambassador to the United States and the Foreign Ministry to communicate Seoul’s position.
The parliamentary hearing highlighted disagreements over the government’s diplomatic response to North Korean military activities near the border and the appropriate role of its U.N. mission.
The government has not announced a decision on whether it will formally seek Security Council discussions concerning the mine explosion.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20261015010004544
About the Author
