Yoon: "Close Cooperation with Germany on Economic Security and North Korea Issues" (Comprehensive)

-President Yoon: "Germany is a key economic partner... Agreed on unified response cooperation in case of North Korea's serious provocation"
-President Steinmeier: "Regional tension due to North Korean missiles... Urged compliance with Security Council resolutions and response to dialogue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] On the 4th, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and agreed to closely cooperate on economic security and North Korea issues. In particular, the two leaders shared concerns over North Korea's repeated recent missile provocations and agreed to take a united response in the event of a serious provocation.

After the meeting with President Steinmeier at the Yongsan Presidential Office building on the morning of the same day, President Yoon said in a joint press release, "We share the recognition that global supply chain instability negatively affects the world economy, and we have agreed to strengthen economic security cooperation to establish a stable supply chain and enhance energy security."

Defining the relationship between Korea and Germany as a "core economic partner," President Yoon mentioned, "While sound trade and investment continue, cooperation is expanding into future industries such as hydrogen and digital deepening. In particular, German companies' investments in advanced technology sectors such as semiconductors in Korea are increasing." He also expressed concerns about the strengthening of protectionism within Europe. President Yoon requested, "As Germany is a key country in the European Union (EU), please pay special attention to ensuring that there are no discriminatory measures against our companies."

Regarding the North Korea issue, President Yoon explained that Korea and Germany agreed to closely cooperate to lead a united response from the international community. In response, President Steinmeier said, "Since the beginning of the year, North Korea has launched missiles at an unprecedented frequency, escalating tensions in the region. We clearly state that such tensions are unacceptable. Only the Pyongyang (Kim Jong-un) regime is solely responsible for the situation."

He continued, "North Korea has violated several United Nations Security Council resolutions through missile launches and is threatening international security. We have clearly criticized these ballistic missile launches and urge North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions and respond to dialogue," he emphasized.

President Yoon said, "Germany, as a country that has experienced division and reunification, can provide many lessons for resolving the Korean Peninsula issue. Our two leaders share serious concerns over North Korea's repeated recent missile provocations and agreed to closely cooperate to lead a united response from the international community in the event of further serious provocations by North Korea." He added, "We also agreed to strengthen cooperation to improve North Korea's human rights situation."

Support efforts for the peace and daily life recovery of the Ukrainian people and strengthening partnerships for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region were also discussed. President Steinmeier said, "In an era when Russia's invasion of Ukraine has occurred, close partnerships are more important. In the case of Korea, it has taken a very strong and clear stance against Russia's invasion among Indo-Pacific countries in the international community," he evaluated.

At the beginning of the joint press release, President Steinmeier expressed, "Personally and on behalf of the German people, I convey deep sorrow and condolences for the (Itaewon) disaster that occurred last weekend," and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. President Yoon said to President Steinmeier, who visited the Halloween crowd crush memorial space set up in Itaewon that morning to pay respects, "I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my condolences to the victims and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster and deeply thank the German people for their warm consolation."

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