YONHAP NEWS

S. Korean diplomat named head of U.N. advisory board on disarmament

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's former ambassador to Hungary has been named to head a special board of advisors to the United Nations secretary-general on disarmament, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

   "U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Ambassador Lee Ho-jin as the chairman of the U.N. Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters as of July 13," the ministry said in a press release.

   This is the first time for a South Korean to head the advisory board, which makes policy suggestions on various international security issues directly to the head of the world body, a ministry official said.

   "It surely is an honor not only for Ambassador Lee, but for the country for a South Korean to head the special board," the official said, asking not to be identified, citing diplomatic protocol.

   Lee's appointment followed a recommendation by Sergio de Queiroz Duarte, a high representative of the U.N. for disarmament, according to the ministry. He will head the 18-member board until the end of this year.

   A graduate of Seoul National University, Lee joined the Foreign Ministry in 1974 and has been a member of the U.N. secretary-general's advisory board since 2004.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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