South Korea urges wealthy nations to share more as Philippines, Marshall Islands call for climate action at UN

South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol told world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York that wealthy countries had to share more with poorer ones

Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr pushed for action on inequality, nuclear weapons and climate change – as did the Marshall Islands

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Published: 12:35pm, 21 Sep 2022

Inequality, the looming climate crisis and the need for wealthy nations to share their advanced technology with poorer ones were among the topics touched upon by Asian leaders at the UN General Assembly this week.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol told world leaders in New York on Tuesday that “one of the most urgent tasks” facing the United Nations, and the global community as a whole, was “promoting global cooperation to narrow the digital divide which exacerbates polarisation between nations”.

Yoon said his country will continue to widely share its advanced digital technology and data, “and spare no effort in providing support and in investing in education”.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Yonhap via EPA-EFE

He also noted that South Korea had helped accelerate research and development for Covid-19 therapeutics and vaccines by pledging US$300 million toward the ACT-Accelerator, a global initiative that pools together resources from governments, health organisations, scientists, businesses and philanthropists to counteract the pandemic.

At the same time, the country is increasing its contribution to the Global Fund to fight against infectious diseases including Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, he said.

Yoon, who was elected earlier this year, acknowledged on Tuesday the threat to humanity posed by nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction but made no mention of the threat on South Korea’s own doorstep – North Korea.

Last month, after the North had test-fired two suspected cruise missiles, Yoon said that his government had no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent, instead calling for more diplomacy.

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