Topic: 2024-Indiscriminate Weapons
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Juliet Guenther
Delegate: Juliet Guenther
Country: Republic of Korea
Topic: Indiscriminate Weapons
Indiscriminate weapons are a plague to many citizens around the globe. Their nature of affecting populations even long after the conflict has ended. This problem has been covered multiple times by the General Assembly, most recently on December 4th, 2023. However, despite the constant attention since the end of the 20th century, this issue persists. This is likely due to an incomplete adherence to international agreements, especially when nations in conflict don’t sign resolutions. Such has happened in the current conflict in Ukraine there has been the use of landmines by both sides. Especially as Ukraine has recently gained permission to use landmines provided by the United States, this shows how this problem is still relevant and needs to be addressed on the international stage.
The Republic of Korea does not have any plans to use indiscriminate weapons. However, Korea will continue to arm itself with nuclear weapons to deter regional enemies, similar to the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. This is followed similarly by the Republic of Korea’s abstention from the Ottawa Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Republic of Korea is in a tense spot being so close to rivals that they are unwilling to give up their arms, and neither is their strongest ally the United States who also shows the same interest.
Due to the geopolitical corner Korea is in, Korea will not support efforts to disarm nuclear weapons, unless the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea agrees to follow through. Otherwise, Korea will support the disarmament of chemical and biological weapons. The Republic will help the United States as a strong ally. With this ally, Korea will not participate in efforts to disarm nations of landmines. The Republic of Korea will support efforts of using landmines in self-defense and production of nuclear weapons as a deterrence of conflict. That is the Republic of Korea’s plan for addressing this issue at the conference.
