ROK's UNSC membership to deter DPRK provocations

The Republic of Korea's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan speaks at a news conference at the Foreign Ministry of ROK in Seoul, Oct 19, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's status as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council will help deter future provocations by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the country's top diplomat said Friday.

"I believe being a member of the Security Council itself will bolster deterrence against North Korea (DPRK), now that we can directly discuss its provocations at the council," Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan told a press briefing.

"This will allow us to contribute to regional peace and world peace as well," he said, adding the country will "play a leading role" in resolving global conflicts.

ROK's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement that the country will "solidify peace on the Korean peninsula" and help "maintain global peace and stability".

The remarks came a day after the ROK was elected to the 15-nation United Nations Security Council, along with Australia, Rwanda, Argentina and Luxembourg, for the first time in 15 years.

It won 149 votes in the second round of voting, more than the 129 votes necessary to win a seat on the council, beating Bhutan and Cambodia that also eyed the Asia-Pacific seat.

The ROK, which joined the UN in 1991 along with the DPRK, will serve on the council for the next two years alongside the five veto-holding permanent council members.