Korea to Sit on UN Security Council Next Year

Korea has been elected as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council tasked with ensuring world peace and security for the next two years.

The only candidate for the Asia-Pacific region, Korea won 180 votes from 192 member states in the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

Algeria and Sierra Leone representing Africa and Guyana representing Latin America were also elected. EU member Slovenia defeated Russia ally Belarus for a seat to represent Eastern Europe.

Korea return to the UNSC next January for the third time since 1996-1997 and 2013-2014.

The council consists of five permanent members (China, France, Russia and the U.K. and the U.S.) and 10 nonpermanent members, who must be elected by a two-thirds majority for their two-year term.

Only the permanent members have the power to veto resolutions.