GCNBNT 2019

Instructions on UNSC Simulation

Exercise on North Korea

Prof A Damodaran
Background:
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), one of the six principal organs of the
United Nations, primary responsibility is for the maintenance of international
peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent) and
under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to
comply with Council decisions.

• The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the
peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by
peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.
In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even
authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

• The UNSC has adopted nine major sanctions resolutions on North Korea in
response to the nations’ nuclear and missile activities since 2006.
• However, North Korea has not adhered to any of the resolutions
passed so far [the last major one being Resolution 2379 adopted on
December 22, 2017 in response to North Korea’s Inter-Continental
Ballistic Missile (ICBM) launch on November 29]. Also, the highly
anticipated Kim-Trump talks have collapsed, and North Korea has
indulged in provocative acts as evidenced by the Artillery Drill North
Korea has indulged on Nov 27,2019 near the South Korean Border.
Rules of procedure:

• Our simulated special session of UNSC is being convened to discuss

the renewed North Korea crisis on January 5, 2020. The session is
convened by the President of the Security Council in accordance with
Rule 2 of Part 1 of the Provisional rules of procedure of the Security
Council, one of the non-security Council members, which reads as
follows:
• “Rule 2: The President shall call a meeting of the Security Council at
the request of any member of the Security Council.”
• The President of the session will invite each delegation to make their
statements with the help of a power point presentation.
• Each learner would briefly mention his/her country’s position on the
Korean issue based on which they would explain if they are for or
against fresh sanctions, and if they are for sanctions , whether they
would advocate soft or hard sanctions (along with reasons for the
same).
Instructions for UNSC Simulation Exercise
• Each learner must choose any one of the following 10 UNSC countries for presentation:
China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States
(permanent members) Brazil, India, Japan, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. (non-
permanent members)
• The duration of presentation should not exceed 2 minutes
• A timekeeper will be there to give the first alert when 1.5 minutes is up and the second
alert when the presentation goes beyond 2 minutes
• Each presentation should have a maximum of three slides excluding the title page slide
(Please do not forget to add your name, roll no. and the country you represent in the
title slide). ). The first slide will explain the country’s position on the Korean issue based
on which they would explain in the second slide if they are for or against fresh sanctions
and in the third slide the learner will mention whether his country is for soft or hard
sanctions (along with reasons for the same).
• The PPTs need to be precise and in bullet points (do not clutter the slides with detailed
content)
• After each learner is done with his/her presentation, the President or
the Co-President would seek clarifications on the statements made
• The PPTs must be submitted to the course instructor at least a day
prior to the presentation i.e. by January 4, 2020.
• Each delegate should dress according to the country of choice.
• The choice of country should be informed to the Class Representative
at least a week prior to the exercise who will then submit the list to
the course instructor.
• Total duration for Simulation Exercise: 250 minutes
Strategy memo
• A strategy memo must be submitted two weeks after the Simulation
exercise i.e. on Januray 29, 2020 by each learner. The memo should
have the following features:
1. The slides presented on Jan 5, 2020
2. Explain the strategy underlying the presentation
3. Whether you feel you can win an agreement from all Security
Council members or at least a few of them (hint: how are you planning
to lobby, negotiate to reach an agreement on the North Korea issue)
Marks distribution
UNSC Simulation Exercise: 20 (individual component)
• Content of slides and presentation skills: 10
• Q&A session: 10
Strategy memo: 15 (individual component)
Total marks: 35
Important dates to remember:
• January 5, 2020: UNSC North Korea resolution simulation exercise
• January 29, 2020: Submission of strategy memo
Important links for reference on UNSC simulation exercise:
• https://youtu.be/TRKFL1nlk_s
• https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/responding-to-trumps-tweet-north-
korea-says-talks-with-us-brings-nothing-to-us-2392915.html
• https://www.foxnews.com/world/north-korea-has-fired-an-unidentified-
projectile-seoul-says
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw5-9zyfHOY
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VzqyypidWw
Thanks