Eighth United Nations-Republic of Korea Joint Conference to Address Pressing

Disarmament, Non-Proliferation Issues, under ‘Prospects for New Era’ Theme

NEW YORK, 13 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) -- The Eighth United Nations-Republic of Korea Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issues will take place in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 16 to 18 November.  This annual event is organized jointly by the Office for Disarmament Affairs through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific and the Government of the Republic of Korea.  Sergio Duarte, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and senior officials from the Republic of Korea, will address the opening session.  More than 40 representatives from Governments, international organizations, academic and research institutions, as well as civil society around the world will participate in the Conference.

This year’s Conference, with the overall theme of “Prospects for a New Era of Progress on Disarmament and Non-proliferation”, will address several critical issues in the fields of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, such as actions towards a nuclear-weapon-free world; challenges and possible solutions to nuclear non-proliferation; promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and non‑proliferation challenges in Northeast Asia.

The annual conference, hosted by the Republic of Korea since 2002, has become an important forum characterized by a frank and constructive exchange of views among Governments officials, independent experts and researchers, and civil‑society representatives on challenges and solutions to pressing disarmament and security issues.  It also addresses particular disarmament and non‑proliferation concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Conference is financed through voluntary contributions made to the Office for Disarmament Affairs, including by the Government of the Republic of Korea.

For further information, please contact Taijiro Kimura, Director, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific,

tel.:  +977 1 501 0257; fax:  +977 1 501 0223; e-mail:  info@unrcpd.org.np.

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For information media • not an official record