President Lee Myung-bak met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at Cheong Wa Dae on August 18 and discussed major issues related to the Korean peninsula.
During luncheon, Secretary-General Ban said President Lee's proposal for North Korea's denuclearization and reduction of conventional weapons, which had been announced on Aug. 15 (Korea's Liberation Day), was highly likely to contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The President's proposal will advance inter-Korean relations, following the return of Hyundai Asan employee Yu Seong-jin, the Secretary-General added. The Hyundai worker was set free on August 13 after a 137-day detention in North Korea.
Secretary-General Ban went on to say, "International expectations are high on Korea's peace-keeping operations. The Korean Navy's counter-piracy operation off the Somalian coast is highly appreciated, too. I would like Korea to take a leading role in negotiations on climate change as well." Secretary-General Ban asked President Lee to preside over one of the 16 round-table working group meetings, which will be held at the UN headquarters in New York next month.
During his visit to Seoul, Secretary-General Ban visited the Korea National Red Cross office and gave a speech on global anti-climate change measures.
Secretary-General Ban wrapped up his visit to Seoul by paying tribute to former president of Korea Kim Dae-jung, who passed away on August 18. The UN Secretary-General was visiting Korea for his home leave from August 10 to 18.
