Assume global leadership role

UN: Amid multiple global challenges testing the international community, the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Saturday called on the United Nations "to assume the mantle of global leadership."

The remarks came as ROK's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Shin Kak-soo addressed the annual general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, which kicked off here on Thursday with the theme of "reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance." As world leaders continue to grapple with the effects of the recent economic, food, fuel and financial crises, Shin emphasized the need for multilateralism.

"To effectively address the increasingly diverse and interconnected challenges, the United Nations should heighten its reform efforts aimed at broadening its operational response capacity," he said. Indicating the numerous challenges facing the UN, he drew the Assembly's attention on the need to improve UN peacekeeping operations to confront conflicts throughout the world.

As the most visible and defining feature of the UN, "(peacekeeping) operations should be conducted in a more professional and disciplined way.

New York, Sunday, Xinhua