President Yoon Suk Yeol says state visit to U.K. signals Korea's importance as a 'strategic partner'

Diplomacy

Published: 20 Nov. 2023, 16:50

President Yoon Suk Yeol says state visit to U.K. signals Korea's importance as a 'strategic partner'

Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and first lady Kim Keon Hee depart on the presidential jet from the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, on Monday morning, for a state visit to Britain and a trip to France. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol said that it was vital to deepen security and economic ties with Britain ahead of departing for London, taking into account the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and rising tensions with Russia and North Korea.

Yoon told the Telegraph in an interview published Monday that his upcoming state visit "will serve as a catalyst for Korea to emerge as one of the United Kingdom's global strategic partners."

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee departed on Monday on a two-leg, weeklong trip that will take them to Britain for a state visit and France to make a final pitch for Busan's 2030 World Expo bid.

The four-day state visit to London, which comes at the invitation of King Charles III, will be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties as the two countries mark their 140th anniversary of bilateral relations this year.

The Korean presidential couple will become Britain's first state guests since the king's coronation in May.

Yoon told the Telegraph that the world is facing a "polycrisis," ranging from pandemics, climate change, military conflicts and rising tensions in the South China Sea.

He said in the interview that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia was "a grave violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a provocative act that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Northeast Asia and Europe."

Amid concerns about closer cooperation between North Korea, Russia and China, Yoon warned that these countries had "divergent interests."

He said it would not work to Beijing's benefit to align itself with Moscow and Pyongyang, noting that China had an essential role in "promoting freedom, peace and prosperity in East Asia," considering its international reputation and standing.

The Yoon administration, in turn, has been strengthening ties with NATO and building close security cooperation with the members of Aukus, a trilateral defense pact between the United States, Britain and Australia.

Yoon stressed the meeting would be a chance to build bilateral ties in digital and AI technology, cybersecurity, nuclear energy, the defense industry, health, space, semiconductors, offshore wind power, clean energy and maritime affairs.

The trip, he said, signals the importance of Korea as Britain's "strategic partner" in the Indo-Pacific, as the two sides work toward deeper cooperation to tackle geopolitical risks, including supply chain and energy security.

On Tuesday, Yoon and Kim will be greeted by Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales at their hotel. They will head to the Horse Guards Parade, where King Charles will receive them in an official welcoming ceremony, marked with a 41-gun salute and an inspection of the honor guard.

Yoon and the king will travel in a carriage to Buckingham Palace, where they will have a welcome luncheon.

Later in the day, Yoon will deliver an address before the British parliament and attend a state banquet at the palace accompanied by some 180 dignitaries from Korea and Britain.

On Wednesday, Yoon will hold a bilateral summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation.

Yoon will also attend economy-focused events, including a Korea-U.K. business forum.

Some 70 business leaders will accompany Yoon on his London trip.

The two countries are set to adopt a Korea-Britain Accord detailing the future direction of bilateral relations.

On Thursday, Yoon will visit the Churchill War Rooms and bid a final farewell to King Charles at Buckingham Palace.

The presidential couple later that day heads to Paris for a three-day trip ahead of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly vote for the World Expo host city on Nov. 28. Korea's Busan is in a fierce three-way race against Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Italy's Rome.

The Europe trip follows hard on the heels of Yoon's visit to San Francisco for last week's APEC summit.

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