Japan's Chances of Security Council Seat ‘Growing Better' Korea Has no Hope of Permanent Security Council Seat

Deputy Foreign Minister for Policy Planning Chun Yung-woo said on April 14 any hopes Japan entertained were “a distant dream." Another government official said, "If Japan is to become a permanent member of the Security Council, it has to pass through about 10 gates, and getting though even one won't be easy." Yet another official warned Japan, Germany, India and Brazil -- the so-called G4 -- not to underestimate the influence of mid-ranking powers like Korea or Italy.

On that assumption, even the president came out publicly against Japan's bid. In a May meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Roh Moo-hyun said it was necessary to examine each state looking for a permanent seat on the council and determine what sacrifices they made for world peace and whether they have the ethical wherewithal to speak for their region. He did not mention Japan by name, but his drift was clear when he added, "A nation that wishes to become a permanent member of the Security Council representing Asia must have the support of Asia."

Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on June 21 and said the two agreed to oppose G4-led moves to expand the number of permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

But reality looks ready to stump Korean expectations. "Paying a lot of UN dues isn't everything," as Roh has said, but a nation’s clout is not nothing either.

Now, a Foreign Ministry official says, "When I made a couple of trips to persuade other nations of our position, there were many countries that said that while Korea was right, it was more important to eat and live well." When nations like Japan and Germany go about armed with millions in development aid trying to win support, most countries find themselves convinced. African states are reportedly particularly receptive.

"There were cases when states said at first they'd cooperate with us, only to go over to the other side after concentrated talks with the G4,” a Korean official says. “There's nothing we can do to stop that."

(englishnews@chosun.com )