SEOUL: President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Friday to overcome North Korea’s provocations and other global challenges by strengthening trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan.
Yoon made the pledge in a message read on his behalf at the opening of the 10th annual peace forum co-hosted by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s leading newswire service, and the unification ministry.
“We will wisely overcome North Korea’s provocations and the global polycrisis,” he said, citing the constant threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, as well as geopolitical tensions and rising energy, resource and food insecurity.
Yoon said his administration is doing its best to overcome such crises and challenges, having “completely restored” the South Korea-U.S. alliance soon after its inauguration in 2022 and expanded it to a “global comprehensive strategic alliance.”
Yoon also noted South Korea’s relations with Japan were normalized under his administration, leading to the South Korea-U.S.-Japan su
mmit at Camp David last August and the opening of a “new horizon” in trilateral security and economic cooperation.
“We will further strengthen the institutional foundation and cooperation of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation system and solidify solidarity and cooperation with nations that share our values,” he said.
This year’s symposium was held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul under the theme “Status and Challenges of Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Cooperation.”
The forum brought together key officials from the three countries as well as foreign policy experts to discuss solutions to international challenges, including growing military ties between North Korea and Russia.
“The government and I will build a free and prosperous Republic of Korea based on strong security,” Yoon said, referring to South Korea by its formal name.
“We will play a responsible role for peace and prosperity not only in the region but also in the world by conducting diplomacy as a global pivotal state.”
Source: Yonhap News Agenc
y