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PHILIPPINES CALLS FOR ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND MEMBER STATES AMBASSADOR'S MEETING

Top: The meeting acknowledges the presence of Amb. Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega. Below: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivering her intervention. The Ambassador highlighted PH's robust defense cooperation with the ROK and UNC, as well as other like-minded nations present in the meeting.

5April 2024, Seoul - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega joined ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, ROK MOFA Deputy Minister Chung Byung-won, and fellow ambassadors of 17 United Nations Command (UNC) member states on 5 April 2024 at the Ministry of Defense Convention Center in Seoul to discuss ways to further enhance security cooperation and promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the region amid rising geopolitical tensions. The meeting was also attended by UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen Derek Macaulay and H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, President and Chair of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and 8th Secretary General of the UN General Assembly.

During the meeting, United Nations Command Member States conveyed that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are integral to global peace and pledged to closely coordinate with the Republic of Korea to uphold shared goals. UNC member states also conveyed their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and partnership with the ROK and active participation in the UN Command Member States mechanisms.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega conveyed practical examples of PH cooperation with the UNC, including sending participants from the Philippine military to UNC-led joint exercises in 2023, the Philippines' active participation in conferences on allied areas of cooperation and exchange such as military logistics, and conveyed PH intent to continue its active participation in regular UN Command meetings. The Philippines also expressed serious concern for DPRK's nuclear ambitions, and called for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK, stressing the need to abide by international law and UNSC sanctions.

The Ambassador was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Defense and Armed Forces Attache Col. Don Templonuevo INF (GSC) PA.

The UN Command was established in July 1950 under a UN mandate to support ROK against DPRK aggression. Heeding the call of the UN, the Philippines sent 7,420 troops under the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) to help South Korea fight for freedom. At present, the UN Command has been overseeing the armistice that halted the Korean War from 1950-1953. Current members of the UNC include the United States, Britain, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, New Zealand, Belgium, France, South Africa, Norway, Denmark and Italy. END

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