The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Republic of Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues
NEW YORK, 11 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The Republic of Korea–United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation Issues took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 11 to 12 November.
This year marked the twentieth anniversary of the annual meeting, which was organized by the Government of the Republic of Korea and United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.
“Since 2002, the so-called “Jeju Process” has provided a platform for dynamic and frank discussions on various issues on disarmament and non-proliferation,” said Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. “I hope that this jubilee marks a milestone for the next decades to come,” she added.
Together with Ham Sang‑wook, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs opened the in-person Conference, held in full compliance with COVID-19 regulations. Around 40 representatives of Governments and intergovernmental organizations, research institutes, and think tanks participated in the two-day meeting.
Titled “Twenty Years of Achievements and Future Aspirations”, this year’s Conference focused on how the disarmament and non-proliferation landscape has changed over the past two decades, and took stock of the successes, setbacks and lessons learned as well as the priority issues in the years ahead. Participants heard assessments on the current state of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and expectations ahead of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which will be held from 4 to 28 January 2022 in New York.
Exploring issues regarding current challenges to international security, disarmament, non‑proliferation and arms‑control issues, both on the global stage and at the regional level, the Conference has become an important forum for the open and constructive exchange of views among participants from around the world.