Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
UN chief nominates ex-Korean diplomat for arms control post
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Kim Won-soo
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has nominated Kim Won-soo, a former career Korean diplomat, as the U.N.’s acting high representative for disarmament affairs.
In a statement in New York Tuesday (local time), Ban said Kim would replace Angela Kane, who wanted to resign.
Kim has been a U.N. assistant secretary-general and also special adviser to the secretary-general since September 2013.
“I conveyed my appreciation for the work done by Ms. Kane in implementing my five-point action plan, which was launched in 2008 to revitalize the international disarmament agenda,” the U.N. chief said. “While much has been done, still a lot remains to be achieved. I expect Mr. Kim to follow through on it.”
According to diplomatic sources, Kim will take over from Kane when she officially steps down after the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It will run from April 27 to May 22.
Kim will be responsible for supporting Ban on arms control, non-proliferation and related security matters.
He has been a close aide to Ban, who was elected as U.N. chief in October 2006 after serving as Korea’s foreign minister. Ban is in his second five-year term.
Kim was the special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general on Change Implementation between 2012 and 2013.
From 2007 to 2012, he was the deputy chef de cabinet and special adviser to the secretary-general.
Before that, he served as Korean head for the transition team for the eighth U.N. secretary-general.
Kim joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987.
During his diplomatic career in Korea, he had various positions. They include presidential secretary for international security affairs (2000 to 2002), secretary for foreign affairs and trade (2002 to 2003), director general for policy planning and ambassador for regional security cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004 to 2005), and special adviser to the foreign minister and ambassador for U.N. issues (2006).