BTMUN 2023

Country: Republic of Korea

Committee:Legal
Topic:Rewrting the „Moon Treaties’’ to match modern standards
Delegate: Matei Ana-Maria

Honorable chairpersons,fellow delegates since its inception The Moon Treaties seem to
outlive the context and time in which it emerged but at the moment it requires some updating
to be at the modern days standards because of the advancement in space made with the help
of technchnology improvement. This agreement is an extention to the Outer Space Treaty
and it gives rise to a de-militarization of the Moon and other celestial bodies. Some of the
obligations of this treaty is not to use any type of weapon on the Moon or to not enstablish
military bases,installations or fortifications. This may be the reason why it did not sound so
appealing to many of the countries that are the most active in Outer Space such as US,Russia
or China. This countries are also the ones that did not give enough suport to the rewritting of
this treaty. But as the interest of the space exploration and expedition is growing this
problem should also be discused and the treaties should also be developed.

In the past there were resolutions such as resolution 1962 (XVIII) which was adopted
without voting in which is talked about the use of outer space or resolution 1884 (XVIII) in
which Republic of Korea participated in and in which it was talked about the intention of
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America not to station in outer
space with any kind of weapons. Republic of Korea also joined the list to sign the Artemis
Accords about which NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson said that they are delighted by
the fact that the Republic of Korea wants to sign,showing the immense enthusiasm from
around the world for the spacial exploration mission. The Artemis Accords is a program
which established a set of principles to guide space exploration. This program also reinforces
and implements the Outer Space Treaty. In 1994 Republic of Korea became a member of
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space which was set up by the General Assembly
in 1959 to govern the exploration of space for the benefit of the humanity and voted on GA
decision 49/319 and GA resolution 49/33

The Republic of Korea adopted in 2005 law number 7538 with the purpose of promoting the
peaceful and scientific use of outer space. In their opinion space development is research
activities and technology development activities relevant to the design, manufacturing,
launch, and/or operation of space objects and the use and exploration of outer space as well
as activities that promote such activities. The Korean Government can go on with the space
development without breaking the space treaties made with the other countries and
international organizations and can peacefully use the outer space with a development usage.
All of the stated happening with the condition of implementing all the policies for space
development which already happened.The National Space Committee is established and
placed under the control of the President to deliberate provisions regarding space
development including establishing the Basic Plan which is a plan happening every 5 years
with the purpose of development. Mindful of such challenges, the Republic of Korea
reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful uses of outer space and urges all States to use the
outer space in a responsible and transparent manner in accordance with existing international
norms. The risks and challenges associated with the safety, security and sustainability of
outer space have proportionately increased. Just to name a few, space debris, potential
collision of space objects and irresponsible behaviors pose serious threats not only to
spacefaring but also to non-spacefaring nations.

The delegation of Republic of Korea,on the topic of Moon Treaties,has the wish to make
sure everyone keeps the peace and uses the outer space mostly for research or any
circumstances that doesn’t affect the national security of the country and which it may also
help to raise the national economy. We belive that what can help us achieve those are:
• Much more effort into clarifying the meaning of the property rights and what does space
resources mean
• Prohibiting any type of military work on the Moon
• Updating the treaty to make it match nowadays technological standards and also make it
more appealing for more countries

To summarize everything up the biggest issue is the lack of interest of countries into making
the Moon Treaties work. The Republic of Korea still continues to keep their point into
keeping the worldwide peace and not militarize the Moon and other celestial bodies but to
keep this the countries all over the world need to put more effort into it and make it seem
much more better and match the today society.

Sources:
• Study Guide
• https://www.nti.org/education-center/treaties-and-regimes/agreement-governing-activities-
states-moon-and-other-celestial-bodies-moon-agreement/
• https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/moon-agreement.html
• https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/203965
• https://www.unoosa.org/res/oosadoc/data/documents/2023/aac_105c_2l/
aac_105c_2l_324add_6_0_html/AC105_C2_L324Add06E.pdf
• https://treaties.unoda.org/t/outer_space
• https://www.nasa.gov/feature/republic-of-korea-joins-list-of-nations-to-sign-artemis-accords
• https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/index.html
• https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/nationalspacelaw/republic_of_korea/
space_development_promotions_actE.html
• https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/statement-by-republic-of-
korea-os.pdf