Conference to debate S. Korea's role in U.N.

SEOUL, July 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday it will hold a conference next week to debate the nation's future policy in the United Nations in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of its formal admission to the global organization. South Korea became a full U.N. member in 1991 with the right to vote. Before then, it had observer status in the U.N. General Assembly and was only allowed to attend meetings. Entitled "Korea in the U.N.: The Third Decade," the one-day forum on Tuesday in Seoul aims to assess South Korea's current role and future diplomacy in the U.N., ministry officials said. "The conference will become a meaningful venue to check achievements in our diplomacy in the U.N. over the past 20 years and discuss our future directions," said Paik Ji-ah, director of the international organization bureau at the ministry. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan will give a speech, and Vijay Nambiar, the chief of staff for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, plans to present a new agenda and emerging issues in the U.N. during the forum, the ministry said.