Five New Non-Permanent Member Countries Elected to UN Security Council

The UN General Assembly on 18 October 2012 elected five new non-permanent members to the Security Council. The New Members are South Korea, Luxembourg, Argentina, Australia and Rwanda.

The newly elected member countries are going to serve a two-year term in the powerful UN body that will begin on 1 January 2013.

The country of Republic of Korea and Luxembourg were elected to a two-year term in the UN Security Council in the second round of voting. Whereas, Argentina, Australia and Rwanda were elected earlier, to serve as new non-permanent members of the powerful UN body.

The five new members are going to replace Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa, whose term ends on 31 December 2012.

Under the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

To be elected to the UN Security Council, a country must win support from two thirds of the General Assembly members, or 129 votes.