By Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. January 20, 2024 marks the 34th anniversary of the military invasion and killing of civilians in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan by the forces of the Soviet Army on January 20, 1990. In response to the rising national independence movement, the Soviet leadership ordered some 26000 troops with heavy military equipment to storm the city of Baku in an operation called “Strike”. The Soviet army sent to the country in order to forcefully suppress the mass protests o
By Lee Kap-soo South Korea's military strength is the fifth strongest in the world, according to a new report. North Korea, on the other hand, was ranked 36th. According to the '2024 Global Firepower' report released by the U.S. military power assessment organization Global Firepower (GFP) on Jan. 19, South Korea scored 0.1416 on the military power assessment index, ranking fifth among 145 countries surveyed. This is an improvement from last year's ranking (6th). South Korea's GFP military power ranking has steadily risen to ninth in 2013 and seventh in 2014, and has remained at sixth from 202
By Lee Jon-young In accordance with its domestic and national development objectives, Türkiye is just hours away from embarking on its maiden space mission. Getting ready for the mission as part of Türkiye's National Space Programme led by President Erdoğan, the country is locked on 19.01.2024 at 00.49 a.m. With the Dragon spacecraft, Türkiye will send its first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, to the International Space Station at 00:49 a.m. on the night of January 18 to January 19. Space travel is one of the technologies that Türkiye aspires to develop in the field of science and technology, and
By Kayla Lee The following article was contributed by Isomiddin Ismailov, Professor of the Department of the University of Public safety of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Sanjar Sharipov, Head of the Department of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Doctor of Philosophy in law sciences, associate professor, to the Diplomacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. Special attention is paid to ensuring a peaceful and tranquil life of the people, as well as creating a culture of law-abiding and public safety in society within
By Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Alisher Kadirov, Head of the Department of the Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Diplomacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. In November of this year, Uzbekistan's chairmanship in the Turkic States Organization (OTS) concluded. It was marked by significant achievements that played a substantial role in strengthening the country's international political and economic positions. Throughout its chairmanship, Uzbekistan actively promoted initiatives aimed at enh
By Lee Kap-soo The following article on excerpts from the interview of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper, was contributed by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal. –Ed. “We will continue a constructive and balanced foreign policy, taking into account the national interests of the country. In 2024, our country will host a number of representative summits and forums. Kazakhstan will chair several authoritative international organizations at once, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Org
By Lee Kap-soo Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) announced on Dec. 7 that Prof. Kim Jin-ah of the LD Department of the university has been appointed as a member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters under the umbrella of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, established by agreement of the UN General Assembly in 1978, consists of 15 ambassadors and civilian experts. Prof. Kim is the third South Korean and first civilian to be appointed to the member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. Beginning her term in January
By Kayla Lee The Future Minerals Forum's (FMF) Ministerial Roundtable, scheduled to take place on January 9, ahead of the third Forum, is expected to break records in terms of the number of participants, FMF has announced. As confirmed to date, more than 45 out of 80 countries will send ministerial representatives to participate in discussions with stakeholders at the meeting. In addition, 20 official international organizations, 30 non-governmental organizations, and 13 business associations will also participate. As the world's highest-level gathering on minerals, the Roundtable marks a hist
By Lee Jon-young The UN Security Council on Jan. 3 held its first open meeting on the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, which are becoming an increasing threat to global trade and the stability of the entire region as the intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza continues, the UN News reported. At the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said, “No cause or grievance could justify continuing Houthi attacks against freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. All incidents originating in Houthi controlled areas must stop.” He encouraged “all c
By Lee Kap-soo The following is the full-text of the New Year message delivered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 28, 2023. -- Ed. 2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos. Humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. 2023 is the hottest year on record. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply. But pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We must com
By Lee Kap-soo The International Youth Fellowship (IYF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), announced on Jan. 3 that it will push for mind education for youth character development in Uganda, East Africa. IYF founder Rev. Park Ok-soo met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kiruhura, Uganda, on Jan. 1 (local time) to exchange views on the introduction of mind education. Rev. Park introduced mind education from around the world and explained his plans to establish a mind education center, introduce mind education to public education in Uganda, and provide training for government offici
By Lee Kap-soo Pope Francis called for the end of military operations in Gaza and the release of Israelis being held hostage in the area in his annual Christmas message. In his annual Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis called for an end “to war, to every war, to the very mindset of war, an aimless voyage, a defeat without victors, an inexcusable folly.” May peace “come in Israel and Palestine, where war is devastating the lives of those peoples,” he said. “My heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of October 7 last, and I reiterate my urgent appeal f
By Lee Kap-soo The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution initiated by Uzbekistan "Central Asia in the face of environmental challenges: strengthening regional solidarity for the sake of sustainable development and prosperity," reports a correspondent of the "Dunyo" information agency. The intergovernmental negotiation process to develop and agree on the text of the resolution took place over two months, namely in October-November at the UN headquarters in New York. Experts from countries from all continents of the world, including the USA, Russia, China, France, Great Britain,
By Lee Kap-soo (New Year Message) Dear readers of the Diplomacy Journal, I wish all readers of Diplomacy Journal all the best in the coming year 2024. The year 2023 was a very special year for us as it marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Switzerland. It was also the 70th anniversary of Switzerland's presence on the Korean Peninsula as a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. Over the past six decades, our two countries have cultivated a solid partnership in politics, economics, science, technology, business, art and design. On th
By Lee Kap-soo | Amid ongoing bombardment in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to provide desperately needed food, water, healthcare and other services to the more than two million people living there. This Thursday (Dec. 7) marks two months since conflict erupted after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing more than 200 hostages, prompting Israel to launch a massive military operation in Gaza. Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and head of its emergency relief office, OCHA, on Thursday upheld the commitment of ai