Prime minister returns from UN assembly

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seung-soo returned home Saturday
after attending the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
The Prime Minister's office said Han delivered a keynote speech officially
expressing Seoul's intent to host the 2012 UN Conference on Environment and
Development, also known as the Earth Summit, and outlining the country's
commitment to low carbon emission, green growth.
The green growth strategy is in line with global body's Millennium Development
Goals and the International Framework Convention on Climate Change.
South Korea is not currently obliged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the
Kyoto Protocol of the Framework Convention, but may have to join in the second
phase that is expected to start around 2013.
Han, during his stay met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and held talks
with foreign government officials, journalists and businessmen to explain South
Korea's position on early ratification of the free trade agreement (FTA) with the
United States. He added that the best way to handle North Korea's nuclear
ambitions is through dialogue and in a peaceful manner.