South Korea backs UN’s global peace efforts, says President Lee

ISTANBUL

South Korea will back global peace efforts by the UN, President Lee Jae Myung told Antonio Guterres, the head of the world body, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The two met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit held in Alberta, Canada.

Seoul’s pledge to support the UN’s role in peace efforts comes amid Israel’s war on Gaza and the ongoing conflict between Tel Aviv and Tehran, which is in its fifth day on Tuesday.

Lee pledged to expand support for the international organization's global peace initiatives.

During their discussion, Lee highlighted the critical role of international unity spearheaded by the UN amid complicated global challenges and assured that the Seoul government would offer essential backing for the UN’s initiatives to advance worldwide peace and prosperity.

Guterres acknowledged South Korea’s contributions to global peace, security, human rights, sustainable development, and climate action, expressing optimism that the nation would maintain its involvement in tackling global issues through collaborative multilateral efforts.

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said that at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks since Friday.

Iran, for its part, said that at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the Israeli assault.

Separately, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing over 55,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children.