▲ Ryu Ho-kwon, director general for international economic affairs at the foreign ministry, speaks during a conference of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 20, 2026, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-UN conference

S. Korea calls for Asia-Pacific cooperation in energy, supply chains amid Mideast conflict

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has called for greater cooperation in energy markets and global supply chains among the stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific as a way to address challenges arising from the Middle East crisis, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Ryu Ho-kwon, director general for international economic affairs at the foreign ministry, made the call during a conference of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok on Monday, the ministry said in a release.

The U.N. ESCAP is an intergovernmental body established in 1947 as one of the five regional commissions under the U.N. Economic and Social Council, with a role in promoting economic and social cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ryu highlighted the impact of the Middle East situation on the energy markets, maritime routes of the Asia-Pacific region and global supply chains, calling for enhanced regional cooperation to address the challenges, the ministry said.

Ryu also met with U.N. ESCAP Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana on the sidelines of the conference and discussed efforts to boost cooperation between South Korea and the U.N. body and expand South Korean presence at international organizations.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]