Foreign Ministers of Korea and the UK Issue Separate Statement on the Occasion of Strategic Dialogue
Cho Tae-yong: “We will strengthen cooperation with the G7.”
Discussion on Korea’s Participation in AUKUS: “Ongoing Consultation”
Korea-UK 2+2 Ministerial Meeting Scheduled for First Half of Next Year
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong and British Foreign Minister David Lammy held the 9th Korea-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Seoul’s Jongno-gu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 21st. [Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
[Herald Economy=Choi Eun-ji] The foreign ministers of Korea and the UK stated, “We condemn in the strongest terms North Korea’s continued illegal transfer of weapons and deployment of military forces to support Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.”
Cho Tae-yong and David Lammy issued a statement on the 22nd condemning military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. This statement is separate from the joint statement that was a result of the 9th Korea-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue held on the previous day (21st) in Seoul.
The ministers pointed out, “Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions, prolongs the suffering of the Ukrainian people, threatens global security including that of Korea and the UK, and reflects the desperation of Russia and North Korea.”
They added, “We are closely monitoring Russia’s potential provision of materials and technology to North Korea in exchange for weapons and military personnel to support North Korea’s military objectives.”
Furthermore, they emphasized, “We are deeply concerned about the possible transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea that could jeopardize the international non-proliferation regime and threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and globally.”
They stated, “We take note of the increasingly intertwined security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic areas and pledge to closely monitor developments, actively pursue necessary actions with the international community to deter illegal, reckless, and destabilizing actions.”
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong and British Foreign Minister David Lammy held the 9th Korea-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Seoul’s Jongno-gu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 21st. [Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
During the Korea-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue held the previous day, the ministers agreed that the current geopolitical situation shows the interconnectedness of European and Indo-Pacific security and exchanged views on regional and international issues including Northeast Asia, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
Additionally, Minister Cho stated that he would strengthen cooperation with the G7 on major international issues.
The ministers agreed to hold a 2+2 Ministerial Meeting (Foreign and Defense) between the two countries in the first half of next year and continue discussions on matters such as improving the Korea-UK FTA, economic cooperation, advanced science fields like AI, quantum science technology, bio, as well as cyber cooperation, climate change, clean energy, and development collaboration.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong and British Foreign Minister David Lammy held the 9th Korea-UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Seoul’s Jongno-gu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 21st. [Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
In the joint statement resulting from this strategic dialogue, both sides discussed Korea’s participation in AUKUS Pillar-2.
Both sides recognized that “AUKUS contributes to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” and “welcomed ongoing consultations for potential cooperation between Korea and AUKUS Pillar-2.”
Minister Lammy, who met President Yoon Suk-yeol the previous day, expressed hope for enhanced advanced defense technology cooperation between Korea and AUKUS at the Pillar-2 level. Last month, during a joint statement, the defense ministers of the US, UK, and Australia publicly mentioned the potential for cooperation with Canada, New Zealand, and Korea in AUKUS Pillar-2.
AUKUS is currently delivering nuclear-powered submarines, known as ‘Pillar-1’, from the US and UK to Australia, and ‘Pillar-2’ focuses on co-developing advanced military technologies across eight areas. China and North Korea have opposed the expansion of AUKUS participation.