By Seo Soo-min

South Korea has decided to launch a bid for one of the 10 elected seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the two-year term beginning in 2007, Seoul officials said on Sunday.

The UNSC is composed of 15 nations _ United States, Russia, China, Britain and France are permanent members endowed with a veto power, while 10 nonpermanent members are elected by a vote in the UN General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry officials said they will try and muster support for the election scheduled to take place in autumn, 2006, with the hopes of securing one of the two seats reserved for Asia. That will mark 10 years since Seoul obtained its first membership on the council in 1996.

Indonesia and Nepal are likely to be pitted against South Korea. Indonesia in particular could win strong support from other countries, the ministry officials pointed out.

During his recent visit to Hanoi, Minister Yoon Young-kwan sounded out Vietnamese Foreign Minster Nguyen Dy Nien on an exchange of support for Vietnam's bid for a seat on the UNSC for 2008 to 2009 if they would support South Korea for the 2007-2008 period.

Of some 50 Asian countries, about 20 have been elected as UNSC member. UNSC makes decisions related to international security and world peace and UN members are obliged to follow the council's decisions.

South Korea's bid for a second stint at the UNSC is a product of its policy to enter the race every ten years, a policy intended to increase its influence in global affairs.

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