Koro Bessho

Koro Bessho (別所 浩郎, Bessho Kōrō, born 5 February 1953) is a diplomat of Japan who has served as the Japanese Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 10 June 2016, and as President of the United Nations Security Council in July 2016 and December 2017.

Koro Bessho
別所 浩郎
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
In office
10 June 2016 – 19 November 2019
Preceded byMotohide Yoshikawa
Succeeded byIshikane Kimihiro
Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Korea
In office
2012–2016
Preceded byMasatoshi Mutō
Succeeded byYasumasa Nagamine
Personal details
Born
別所 浩郎 (Bessho Kōrō)

(1953-02-05) 5 February 1953
Hyōgo Prefecture
Alma materUniversity of Tokyo

Career

Bessho was born in Hyōgo Prefecture and lived in New Zealand as an elementary and junior high school student. He graduated from Nada High School in Kobe and obtained an LL.B. from the University of Tokyo in 1975, thereafter joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He worked in the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. from 1990 to 1993, and in 1995 was appointed head of the Northeast Asia Division of the Foreign Ministry. He served as Executive Secretary to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi from April 2001, and as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2012 to 2016.[1]

As ambassador to South Korea, he made efforts to resolve the ongoing controversy between the two countries surrounding the comfort women issue.[2] He received the ROK's highest diplomatic honor in 2016 for his work to improve Japan-Korea relations.[3] Sankei Shimbun Seoul correspondent Katsuhiro Kuroda described Bessho as one of the "best five" of the fourteen Japanese ambassadors to South Korea since 1977, praising his English ability and his good relationship with the press.[4]

As rotating president of the UN Security Council in July 2016, Bessho was responsible for tallying the ballots in the United Nations Secretary-General selection held that month.[5]

References
  1. "Ambassadors | Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (UN) in New York". www.un.emb-japan.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  2. "Seoul lauds envoy's sex slave stance". The Japan Times Online. February 9, 2014. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  3. "South Korea presents Japan's U.N. envoy Bessho with top diplomatic award". The Japan Times Online. August 14, 2016. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  4. Kuroda, Katsuhiro (June 18, 2016). "【ソウルからヨボセヨ】別所前大使の心残りは… 放置されたままの大使館前の「慰安婦像」". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  5. "Men Voting for Men: UN Security Council Holds Its First Straw Poll to Pick a Secretary-General | PassBlue". Retrieved April 18, 2017.
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