New york: 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.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoo stated that "transnational crimes, such as cybercrime, drug trafficking and human trafficking, cannot be tackled by the efforts of a single country alone," emphasizing the necessity for U.N.-led international collaboration. This call for cooperation is seen as a significant step towards addressing issues that transcend national borders.
During his visit, Yoo met with Jean-Pierre La Croix, U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, on Monday to discuss the resumption of deploying South Korean police officers to U.N. peacekeeping operations. These discussions are part of broader efforts to bolster international peace and security through enhanced collaboration.
In addition to his engagements at the U.N., Yoo has also been involved in discussions with Korean American law enforcement officers and federal agents from areas including New York and New Jersey. These meetings focused on safety measures for overseas Koreans and explored ways to enhance coordination between South Korea and the United States in law enforcement efforts.
Yoo's visit to the U.S. was initially scheduled to continue until Saturday. However, he has decided to cut short his visit, returning home Friday amid growing public criticism over police handling of a high-profile murder case in Gwangju involving a 17-year-old female student. This decision underscores the challenges and pressures faced by law enforcement in dealing with sensitive domestic issues while engaging in international diplomacy.
Before his return, Yoo was also scheduled to visit the FBI headquarters in Washington for high-level talks centered on information sharing and joint operations against global crimes. The KNPA highlighted that these discussions are crucial for strengthening international law enforcement cooperation.
The South Korean police agency also announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Inter-American Development Bank. This agreement aims to expand policing diplomacy in Latin America and promote the export of South Korea's advanced policing systems and equipment, reflecting the country's commitment to enhancing global security measures.