South Korea becoming “trusted Indo-Pacific partner“ as Pres. Yoon completes UK, France visit

윤통, 순방외교 통해 ’유럽과 신뢰∙혁신∙연대 키워가고 있어’ President Yoon Suk Yeol has returned from his week-long trip to Europe which included a state visit to the United Kingdom and a three-day campaign in Paris to promote Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Our Oh Soo-young brings us the main outcomes of that trip, which went beyond reinforcing friendly relations and strengthened long-term security ties. Seoul is building its clout as a trusted security partner in the Indo-Pacific region. That’s according to experts following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the United Kingdom and France last week. Emphasising their shared values of freedom, human rights, and the rule-of-law, Yoon’s Downing Street Accord with UK leader Rishi Sunak showed an unprecedented level of security cooperation between the two sides, featuring deals on supply chains and the development of sensitive dual-use technologies. Co-developing artificial intelligence and quantum technologies to target North Korea’s missiles, as well as cyber security, which could act as a bridge to strengthen Seoul’s links with the Five Eyes intelligence group --consisting of the UK, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, was also part of the deal. “The willingness to share intelligence with South Korea shows a high level of trust in the government of South Korea. Also in the intelligence gathering capabilities of South Korea, the military of South Korea as well, right? So in a sense, it’s proved that South Korea is considered to be a reliable partner by all these countries. Now, on top of that, these countries can gather intelligence that South Korea cannot. For example, in the Middle East, for example, in Russia even if we look at China for example, they have different assets.“ Seoul also reaffirmed its value-based cooperation with Paris, agreeing to work together on AI and quantum technology as Presidents Yoon and Macron exchanged views on North Korea’s weapons collaboration with Russia and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly as South Korea begins its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council next year. South Korea has been looking to multilateral platforms and like-minded partners to tackle global challenges that threaten peace, freedom, and the rule of law in the international community. “First of all, because we have seen as a result of growing competition, but also, the Trump administration being in office in the past --South Korea, has been looking at other potential partners, not to replace the U.S. but really to complement what it gets from the U.S the U.S. Japan cooperation with Korea is, is very much driven by specific security threats. And I think in the case of Europe, this is not necessarily the case.“ Beyond security and economic interests, South Korea has also grown its capacity to contribute to global development. The country’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo, has been highlighted as a chance to foster global solidarity towards the goals of tackling inequality, climate change, and emerging digital challenges that affect all societies. Presenting Busan as the world’s solutions platform, based on Korea’s own transformation from a war-torn nation to a digital and cultural powerhouse, Yoon has held over 150 summits with 96 countries since his inauguration last year. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News. #SouthKorea #YoonSukYeol #statevisit #Europe #UnitedKingdom #Paris #Busan_expo #world_expo #security_cooperation #economic_cooperation #Downing_Street_Accord #윤석열 #순방외교 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2023-11-27, 09:00 (KST)