New york: A senior South Korean diplomat has called for international efforts to ensure an effective implementation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) arms embargoes to curb illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina made the remark during a UNSC meeting on small arms control at the U.N. headquarters in New York, voicing concerns over such trade flows contributing to the spread of armed violence and transnational crimes, and hindering sustainable development.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim underscored the need to effectively implement UNSC arms embargoes and address opportunities and challenges arising from new technologies. Following the UNSC session, Kim met with U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed during which she stressed efforts to strengthen the U.N.-oriented multilateralism to respond to common challenges faced by the international community.

On Tuesday (local time), Kim had a meeting with Rosemary DiCarlo, under secretary general of the U.N. Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), and discussed the DPPA's key role in preventing conflicts.