▲ Yoo Jae-seong (3rd from L), acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), signs a document, in this undated photo provided by the KNPA. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

police chief-US visit

Acting police chief of S. Korea urges U.N.-led cooperation against transnational crimes

SEOUL, July 9 (Yonhap) -- The acting chief of South Korea's national police agency has emphasized the need for global cooperation to combat transnational crimes, the police said Thursday.

Yoo Jae-seong, the acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), highlighted the issue during his speech at the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) held in the United States on Wednesday (local time), according to the KNPA.

"Transnational crimes, such as cybercrime, drug trafficking and human trafficking, cannot be tackled by the efforts of a single country alone," Yoo told the meeting, stressing the need for what he called U.N.-led international efforts, according to the KNPA.

Yoo met with Jean-Pierre La Croix, U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, on Monday to discuss resuming the deployment of South Korean police officers to U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Yoo has also met with Korean American law enforcement officers and federal agents from areas including New York and New Jersey, and discussed safety measures for overseas Koreans and ways to enhance coordination between the two countries.

The South Korean police chief was originally scheduled to visit the U.S. until Saturday but has cut short his visit to return home Friday amid growing public criticism of police handling of a high-profile murder case in the southwestern city of Gwangju involving a 17-year-old female student.

The acting police chief was scheduled to visit the FBI headquarters in Washington for high-level talks focused on information sharing and joint operations against global crimes before heading home, according to the KNPA.

The agency said it also plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Inter-American Development Bank to expand policing diplomacy in Latin America, and promote exports of South Korea's advanced policing systems and equipment.

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