President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a luncheon on Aug. 12 for United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who arrived in Korea the day before for a two-day visit.
Presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun said in a briefing, "Secretary General Guterres came to Korea for the first time since making an official visit to attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics."
In their Aug. 12 luncheon, she said, both leaders discussed issues in Northeast Asia including North Korea's nuclear program and preparation for the 77th U.N. General Assembly next month in New York.
The U.N. chief also held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin.
Ahn Eun-ju, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a regular briefing that Minister Park and the U.N. chief discussed key international issues such as climate change and the crisis in Ukraine.
"This meeting served as an opportunity for Korea to strengthen cooperation with the U.N. as a 'global pivotal country' that upholds universal values such as liberal democracy, human rights and rule of law."
