Yoon, 'Final Schedule of Overseas Visit' Meeting with NATO Secretary General... "Expecting Expanded Cooperation and Institutionalized Communication"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 30th (local time), President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and agreed to strengthen cooperation between Korea and NATO.

The Presidential Office announced that on the 30th (local time), President Yoon held a meeting with Secretary General Stoltenberg in Madrid, Spain, as the final schedule of his NATO visit. With this, President Yoon concluded his tour and headed back to Korea.

Both sides were originally scheduled to meet on the first day of the visit, the 28th, but due to delays in negotiations between NATO and related countries over Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, the meeting took place two days later.

President Yoon evaluated that since Korea and NATO established a global partnership in 2006, they have closely cooperated to respond to various challenges in the international community.

He added that he hopes cooperation will expand through the establishment of a new Korea-NATO partnership in the second half of this year and that communication can become more institutionalized with the opening of a Korean delegation to NATO.

Secretary General Stoltenberg welcomed President Yoon's attendance at the NATO summit, stating that the participation of the Korean leader, a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region, holds historic significance for NATO as well. He also emphasized that efforts will be made to continuously strengthen and develop the Korea-NATO cooperative relationship.

During the meeting, President Yoon mentioned that the North Korean nuclear issue poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability as well as the international non-proliferation regime, and requested NATO's continued interest and cooperation regarding the Korean government's North Korea policy.

In response, Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed unwavering support for the Korean government's position and reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing cooperation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, having completed their visit to Spain, are waving as they board Air Force One at Madrid Barajas International Airport on the 30th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.