Former UN chief requests Hun Sen support peace in South Korean peninsula

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Cambodia to
support peace efforts in the Korean peninsula during its role as host of
the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem).

Ban, currently president of the South Korean Global Green Growth
Institute, discussed the situation in the Korean peninsula with Prime
Minister Hun Sen during a meeting in Seoul, according to the Minister
Delegate Attached to Prime Minister Kao Kim Hourn.

At a press conference, Kim Hourn said: “His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
emphasised the need to enhance cooperation between Cambodia and Korea.

“His Excellency also discussed the situation in the Korean Peninsula
with Prime Minister Hun Sen and asked him to support peace efforts in
the region. As a member of Asean, Cambodia can play an important role in
the affairs of the Korean Peninsula.”

In a recent Facebook post, Hun Sen recalled a visit by Ban to
Cambodia before he rose to the top of the UN. During that visit, Ban
visited the Angkor Kyung Yu Night Market in Siem Reap.

“That was around the same time that Cambodia started sending
peacekeepers to the UN, and then the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders
began as Ban Ki-moon became the secretary-general of the United Nations.

“Cambodia has continued to send troops around the world on
peacekeeping missions under the umbrella of the UN, including women
soldiers,” Hun Sen said.

Also on Tuesday, Hun Sen met South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
During the meeting, he asked South Korea to consider building a bridge
in Cambodia in similar fashion to China and Japan, which both have
“friendship bridges” here.

Hun Sen thanked Korea for its financial assistance and development
aid. He said Korea’s loans helped strengthen infrastructure in the
country, allowing Cambodians to travel faster and more safely between
provinces.

The 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) will be held on November 16 and 17 in Phnom Penh.