By Kim Hyo-jin
South Korea is questioning North Korea's eligibility to be a member of the United Nations in connection with its recent provocations in breach of U.N. resolutions.
During a U.N. open discussion Monday on the U.N. charter's principles and goals, South Korea's U.N. ambassador Oh Joon questioned whether North Korea still has the right to be a U.N. member after reneging on membership obligations.
"Twenty-five years ago, the DPRK solemnly pledged to comply with the obligations of the U.N. Charter as a new member, but during the past decade, the DPRK has persistently violated all Security Council resolutions on the DPRK," Oh said.
He was referring to the North's military provocations such as its Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 long-range rocket launch. The DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"This is not only a direct challenge to the authority of the Security Council, but also a contradiction to both the letter and spirit of the pledge it made. This breach of obligation by the DPRK calls into question its qualification as a member of the United Nations," Oh added.
South Korea's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Hahn Choong-hee continued questioning the North's qualifications during a meeting of the Special Committee on the Charter of the U.N. the following day.
It is the first time that South Korea has taken issue with the North's U.N. membership since the two Koreas jointly entered the international body in 1991.
The government's move is seen as an attempt to put further pressure on the North by isolating the country from the international stage in line with its hard-line approach toward the reclusive country, according to analysts.
However, they cast doubt over whether South Korea's move will pay off.
"It is unlikely to happen, as suspension of U.N. membership also needs the agreement of the 15-member Security Council (UNSC) which includes China and Russia," said Lee Jang-hie, an emeritus professor of the law school at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
According to article 5 of the U.N. Charter, a U.N. member, against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the UNSC, may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership upon the recommendation of the UNSC. The "recommendation" should be made in the form of a UNSC resolution, Lee noted.
Cho Chang-beom, vice president of World Federation of United Nations Associations, also said it's hardly expectable, noting other countries like Syria and Iran have reneged on U.N. obligations, but calls have yet to be made for suspension of their membership.
"We can ask North Korea to respect international regulations like human rights laws because it is a member of the international community," Lee added. "It is more beneficial for us to leave the country as a U.N. member."
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will concentrate on drumming up greater support among its allies for harsher sanctions against North Korea, instead of immediately seeking to strip the North of its U.N. membership.
The ministry said South Korea and the United States have agreed to work harder on making a stronger and more effective sanctions resolution in the UNSC.
정부는 19일 북한의 유엔 회원국 자격 문제가 최근 일각에서 제기된 데 대해 '주목된다'면서도 '확대 해석할 필요는 없다'는 입장을 밝혔다.
외교부 당국자는 '이번 주 유엔 안보리와 총회에서 잇따라 유엔 헌장 관련 회의가 개최됐다'며 '이 과정에서 일부 국가들이 북한의 상습적인 안보리 결의 위반을 유엔 헌장 의무 차원에서 지적하면서 북한에 대해 처음으로 유엔 회원국 자격 문제를 제기한 것은 주목된다'고 말했다.
최근 유엔 안보리와 총회에서 열린 유엔 헌장 관련 회의에서 일부 국가들은 북한이 핵실험과 장거리 미사일 발사 등으로 안보리 결의를 수차례 정면 위반했다고 지적한 것으로 알려졌다.
외교부 당국자는 '(이들 국가는) 이를 1991년 (북한의) 유엔 가입 당시 서약한 유엔 헌장 존중 의무 위반으로 유엔 회원국 자격 문제와 연계시킨 바 있으나, 아직 소수 국가가 제기한 것인 만큼 확대 해석할 필요는 없을 것'이라고 설명했다.
그는 '정부는 최우선 당면 과제인 북한의 핵실험 및 장거리 미사일 발사에 대한 유엔 안보리 제재 결의를 채택하는데 역점을 두고 있다'고 강조했다.
우리 정부 당국자도 북한의 유엔 회원국 자격을 문제 삼는 발언을 했으나, 정부는 실제 자격정지 등을 정책적으로 추진하는 방안은 현실성이 낮다고 보는 것으로 알려졌다.
오준 주(駐)유엔 한국대사는 15일(현지시간) 유엔 공개토의에서 '유엔 가입 때의 의무를 위반한 북한이 과연 유엔 회원국이 될 자격이 있는지를 문제 삼지 않을 수 없다'고 밝혔다. (연합뉴스)
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