[Herald Interview] Inaugural meeting maps UNC 2.0 amid shifting security dynamics

More than 70 years have passed since the United Nations Command was forged to assist South Korea in repelling North Korea's invasion in 1950.

The collective security establishment within the UN serves as the backbone of the security of the Korean Peninsula. But the time has come to discuss ways to renew its mission, which continues today amid rapidly changing security dynamics, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry, which hosted the inaugural defense ministerial meeting of UNC member states on Tuesday in Seoul.

"We aim to solicit perspectives on how, within the dynamic security environment, the UN Command can enhance its backing for the Republic of Korea," Heo Tae-keun, deputy minister for national defense policy at the Defense Ministry, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday.

"We intend to delve into inventive strategies, assessing potential new initiatives, and identifying areas that require reinforcement, all geared towards amplifying the UN Command's support to South Korea in response to shifting security conditions," he said.

The UN Command was founded in July 1950, one month after North Korea's invasion, under UN Security Council Resolutions 82, 83 and 84. The situation marked the first-ever attempt at collective security within the UN system.

"The armistice agreement must be well-maintained to suppress war and manage crises. The UN Command has played its crisis management role successfully for 70 years," Heo said.

"As we convene for the first meeting, our initial focus would be on a comprehensive review of the UN Command's establishment, the pivotal roles it has played and an examination of any evolution or developments that have transpired since its inception to the present day," he said.