China supports UN to be more active, effective

China is willing to work with all parties to support the United Nations to be more active and effective, and transform the political commitments of the Pact for the Future into concrete actions to promote peace and prosperity across the globe, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a debate theming on the implementation of the outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits and the strengthening and reform of the UN system held by the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Through arduous efforts, the Summit of the Future, held at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 22 and 23, adopted the Pact for the Future, sending a clear political signal for strengthening unity and cooperation to improve global governance and pointing the direction of the efforts to meet global challenges, said Fu.

China calls on developed countries to take the implementation of the pact as an opportunity to earnestly shoulder their historical responsibilities such as development aid and climate finance, and take concrete actions and provide real money to truly help developing countries solve their real difficulties.

Fu also said that the pact proposed many measures to maintain international peace and cooperation, and maintaining peace in the Middle East is urgent at present.

"In order to prevent the situation from escalating or even getting out of control, all parties must exercise restraint and avoid inflammatory remarks and provocative actions. Might cannot replace justice. Palestine's long held aspiration to establish an independent state should not be shunned anymore, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people should not be ignored anymore. A comprehensive ceasefire is urgent, and the 'two-state solution' is the fundamental way out," he said.

Fu also highlighted that it is necessary for the UN Security Council to carry out reasonable reform to truly enhance the representation and voice of developing countries, and allow more small and medium-sized countries with independent foreign policies to participate in the decision-making of the Security Council, and must prevent the council from becoming a stage that serves major powers or supports bloc confrontations.

China supports UN to be more active, effective

China supports UN to be more active, effective

China supports UN to play more active role in maintaining global peace, justice: envoy

China supports UN to play more active role in maintaining global peace, justice: envoy

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.

The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.

The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.

The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.

The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges