U.N. chief congratulates S. Korea on Security Council entry, GCF secretariat hosting

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday after his native country won membership with the U.N. Security Council and the right to host the secretariat of an international climate fund.

Ban called Lee on the phone and hailed South Korea's election last week as a non-permanent member of the Security Council as a reflection of the country's heightened international status and a fruition of its diplomatic capabilities, the presidential office said in a statement.

Lee expressed gratitude for Ban's words, saying South Korea will continue to strengthen its roles and contributions befitting its national power to help further solidify peace on the Korean Peninsula, and maintain international peace and safety, it said.

It marked the second time Seoul has assumed membership with the powerful 15-member body, following a term in 1996-97. The country's two-year term will begin on Jan. 1. Officials said Seoul's entry to the council will have deterring effects on North Korean provocations.

Ban also congratulated South Korea on its winning of the right to host the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund, an international pool of money aimed at fighting global warming, and the two sides agreed to further expand cooperation in green growth, the office said.

South Korea beat Germany and four other competitors to bring the GCF secretariat to Songdo, west of Seoul, in a vote on Saturday. Officials said the international organization will serve as a boon for not only South Korea's economy, but also for its security as well.

GCF is a mechanism established in 2010 to channel funds from industrialized nations to help developing countries tackle climate change. It has a membership of about 190 countries, and the combined donations are expected to rise to US$100 billion a year from 2020. (Yonhap News)