Yoon says diplomacy is linked to public livelihood in town hall

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the second policy review meeting, focusing on diplomatic and security affairs, at the Blue House in central Seoul on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the importance of solidarity between countries with shared values, which he said is directly related to South Korea's national interest and survival, as he presided over a policy review meeting Wednesday.

"Diplomacy and security are directly linked to the livelihood of the people in a situation where advanced science and technology cooperation is a package deal," Yoon said in his opening remarks.

Around 100 experts and members of the public attended Yoon's second town hall meeting, reviewing his administration's policy tasks.

The meeting focused on foreign affairs and security issues, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, improving relations with Japan and the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

"Since taking office, I have emphasized solidarity and cooperation between countries based on the universal value of freedom, human rights and the rule of law," Yoon said. "Solidarity and cooperation between countries sharing universal values are directly related to our national interests and survival in the international community, as well as to our constitutional values of liberal democracy and the market economy system."

"State affairs and foreign affairs" are "like two sides of the same coin," Yoon added.

He stressed that South Korea's future depends on strengthening its supply chain in the face of complex crises and securing a technological edge through innovations.

"The economy is at the center of diplomacy," Yoon said.

He added that his government will continue to focus on expanding global cooperation to strengthen substantive cooperation in the nuclear power plant, semiconductor and supply chain sectors and do all it can to support the country's export targets and explore international markets.

Yoon emphasized the importance of cooperation with its ally, the United States, and normalizing relations with Japan to better cope with global challenges.

"Trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan is more important than ever to overcome complex crises and challenges, including the North Korean nuclear threat," he said.

He noted that the Seoul-Washington alliance has developed into a "comprehensive global strategic alliance" beyond the traditional military security alliance.

Likewise, he said the "importance of Korea-Japan relations cannot be overemphasized."

Last month, Yoon made his first bilateral visit to Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The two leaders agreed to normalize bilateral relations frayed by historical disputes related to Japan's colonial rule over Korea.

This came despite the protests by some survivors of Japan's wartime forced labor and civic groups who were unhappy with the Yoon government's plan to compensate the victims through a Seoul-backed fund without set contributions from the Japanese companies found liable under the Korean Supreme Court's rulings in 2018.

During the policy meeting, Yoon said that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia is more serious than ever due to North Korea's continued development of its illegal nuclear weapons program and recent string of missile launches.

He stressed the need to strengthen the alliance's extended deterrence capabilities and reinforce the Korean-style "three-axis system," comprised of the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense system and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation posture.

"Our military must establish a firm view of the enemy and bolster military discipline and maximize our capabilities through effective combat training so that we can fight and win under any circumstance where we are attacked first," Yoon said.

Earlier this year, Seoul's Defense Ministry labeled the North Korean regime as an "enemy" in its latest white paper, the first time it has done so in six years.

Yoon also noted that his government revealed to the public last month its North Korean human rights report — the first time it has done so — and emphasized that it is important to openly disclose to the international community the regime's horrific rights abuses.

He then promised to make efforts to ensure that the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2016 is properly implemented.

Last December, the Yoon government presented its comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy the United States endorsed, outlining South Korea's plans to contribute to "freedom, peace and prosperity" as a key player.

Yoon further highlighted that the economic security cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been taken to another level through Korea's "sales diplomacy" and "summit diplomacy."

The meeting was attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, national defense, unification, and patriots and veterans affairs, each of whom explained the government's foreign affairs and security policies, according to the presidential office in a statement.

Afterward, in-depth discussions were held with experts from each field followed.

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of Yoon's People Power Party (PPP), PPP Rep. Kim Tae-ho, head of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and other conservative lawmakers also attended the meeting.

Last December, Yoon presided over his first policy review meeting that was broadcast live and focused on three major reforms related to public livelihood and balanced regional development, namely, in labor, education and pensions.

In contrast to the first policy review meeting, where public panelists mainly asked questions to the president, the presidential office said experts in diplomacy and security led the inquiry this time around.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]