UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Korea (ROK) on Friday strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons in the Syria conflict, saying it constitutes a crime against humanity that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
The message was conveyed in a speech delivered by ROK Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which entered its fourth day here Friday.
"The use of chemical weapons in Syria, as confirmed by the report of UN investigators, is the worst humanitarian disaster in the 21st century," he said.
UN inspectors have confirmed the use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21 on the outskirts of Damascus, the Syrian capital, but they did not say who was behind the attack.
The foreign minister welcomed recent positive developments in international efforts to end the civil war which, according to the United Nations, has left more than 100,000 people dead since its outbreak in March 2011.
"We welcome the recent agreement between the U.S. and Russia on the 'Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons', and an expected decision by the OPCW (the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) and a resolution by the Security Council today," he said.
A draft resolution legally obligating Syria to give up its chemical stockpile is expected to be put to a vote in the 15- nation UN body late Friday. Meanwhile, the Hague-based OPCW will also vote on its own plan for the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
"We urge the Syrian government to faithfully implement its commitments to the international community," said the foreign minister.
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