Yoon Returns Home, Engages in Condolence Diplomacy and UN Debut... Including Slang Controversy

Starting with Attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral, Emphasis on 'Freedom' at UN General Assembly
Discussed Economic Security with Canadian Leader... Checked Security Situation Against North Korean Provocations Before Returning Home
30-Minute Meeting with Japan, 48-Second Encounter with US... Slang Controversy Also Covered Overseas

President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over a security situation briefing with his aides on the 23rd (local time) at Ottawa International Airport in Canada, before returning home after visits to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol returned home on the 23rd (local time) after a 7-day, 5-night tour of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Just before the plane took off, President Yoon held a meeting with his aides to assess signs of North Korean provocations and issued instructions to "take measures to respond immediately on our own if the situation unfolds."

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon boarded Air Force One at Ottawa International Airport in Canada, where he was seen off.

During his visits to the three countries? the UK, the US, and Canada?President Yoon met King Charles III in London, the first country on his itinerary, and expressed condolences, saying, "We will never forget Queen Elizabeth II, who devoted her life as a guardian of freedom and peace." Although there was controversy over perceived cold treatment, President Yoon attended the reception hosted by King Charles III to convey his deep condolences and also met and exchanged greetings with newly appointed UK Prime Minister Liz Truss for the first time. He also held talks with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, exchanging views on current issues.

On the morning of the 19th, he attended the funeral held at Westminster Abbey in central London. Representing the government and people of the Republic of Korea, President Yoon shared the grief of the British people and paid tribute to the deceased with the highest honors.

In New York, he made his debut at the United Nations. In his UN General Assembly speech, he mentioned "freedom" more than 20 times, repeatedly emphasizing solidarity with the world. This was seen as distinctly different from previous presidents who directly appealed on issues like "North Korea's nuclear weapons" and "peace on the Korean Peninsula." Immediately after the speech, during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, he also brought up the North Korean issue.

The Korea-Japan summit, held for the first time in about 2 years and 9 months, was conducted as a brief 30-minute meeting. After last-minute difficulties over whether to hold the meeting, its format, and duration, the two leaders held a brief meeting and agreed on the need to resolve current issues and improve relations. However, the Japanese side referring to the meeting as a "talk" instead of a summit, and President Yoon visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, sparked further controversy.

In particular, President Yoon's "vulgar language controversy" became the biggest issue of the tour. A video clip seemingly capturing him saying, right after meeting President Biden, "If those XX in the National Assembly don't approve it, Biden will be embarrassed, what should we do?" spread widely. The presidential office explained that President Yoon had expressed prior concern about the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, blocking the approval of a related agenda after he pledged $100 million to the Global Fund, but the controversy has not subsided.

In the final country of his tour, Canada, President Yoon met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." They decided to further advance their relationship, especially by strengthening cooperation on critical minerals and economic security. In their joint statement, the two leaders pledged to "enhance cooperation and coordination to address economic security challenges," including deepening their strategic partnership on resilient supply chains. They also mentioned cooperation on critical mineral supply chains and the electric vehicle value chain.

Just before returning home, President Yoon held a security situation briefing with his aides aboard Air Force One. According to the presidential office, through a call with the Yongsan National Crisis Management Center situation room, he received a security briefing from the second deputy director of security, who reported on signs and movements of North Korean provocations such as SLBMs. After receiving a report from Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup on possible measures in case of provocations, President Yoon instructed, "Take measures to respond immediately on our own if the situation unfolds," the presidential office said.

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