A Korean Week

This past week marked a new high for Korean influence on the world stage and also revealed changing dynamics within the United Nations and its role in the world.

On October 13th, Ban Ki-Moon, South Korea’s foreign minister, was appointed by the United Nations General Assembly to become the 8th UN Secretary General. He will begin his five year term on January 1, 2007. As expected, the Security Council recommended an Asian Secretary General. What is interesting is the change in economics on the international stage. South Korea is easily the largest economy, and first true economic power, to have the Secretary General chosen from its country (for a list of past Secretary Generals see about the UN and for a list of GDP rankings see GDP rankings). Further, Ban Ki-Moon had negotiated several trade agreements with countries that chose the next Secretary General, thus placing himself to be in a position to be rewarded for these financial connections that enrich nations. Ban Ki-Moon is without question highly qualified to be the next Secretary General. The question is whether this has ushered in an era where economic considerations play a role in choosing this position.

One of Ban Ki-Moon’s biggest challenges will be confronting a newly nuclear armed North Korea. As a result of North Korea’s now confirmed successful test of a nuclear weapon, the Security Council, acting under its Chapter VII powers, imposed economic and political sanctions on North Korea. These events represent an important crossroads in determining the effectiveness of the United Nations and the Security Council in resolving difficult diplomatic situations. It is clear that even though North Korea is a so-called member of the “axis-of-evil” and has developed weapons of mass destruction that could be provided to terrorists, the only strategy will be to resolve the crisis diplomatically. Thus, the current mechanisms of UN sanctions and political pressure are the only tools that will be used, and South Korea is the country most threatened by a nuclear North Korea, it will be key to see whether Ban Ki-Moon can help end an escalating threat to international peace and security.