Yoon Holds Summit with President Macron... Discusses Diplomacy, Industry, and North Korean Nuclear Issues

Yoon and Macron May Discuss Pension Reform as a 'Common Interest'

On the 20th (local time), the second day of President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to France to support the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo, he will hold a summit meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

President Yoon and President Macron will meet in Paris in the afternoon to conduct the talks in the order of a joint press announcement, a luncheon meeting, and a private meeting with minimal attendants, President Yoon's spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a local briefing.

At the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss cooperation on diplomatic and security issues including their countries' Indo-Pacific strategies, as well as expanding collaboration in cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), space, and advanced future industries. Spokesperson Lee explained, "Korea and France share common ground economically and industrially," adding, "Both countries possess remarkable technological capabilities in the fields of nuclear power and aviation, and they will discuss how to cooperate technologically in these areas."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They will also discuss international cooperation measures between Korea, as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2024-2025, and France, a permanent member. In particular, North Korean human rights and sanctions issues are expected to be key topics.

Spokesperson Lee said, "France has traditionally emphasized human rights and, in that context, has not established diplomatic relations with North Korea," adding, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has also faced North Korean human rights issues head-on without avoidance, so this will be an important agenda item."

He continued, "During the previous administration, former President Moon Jae-in toured Europe and requested the lifting of sanctions on North Korea, but President Macron clearly stated, 'Now is not the time to lift sanctions; it is time to enforce them,'" introducing that discussions will be held from that perspective.

Additionally, there is a possibility that President Yoon will exchange various opinions on reforms with President Macron, who has been pushing pension reform despite strong domestic opposition in France. Since President Yoon is also promoting pension reform as one of the three major reforms alongside labor and education reforms, their interests overlap.

A presidential office official left room for the pension reform topic to arise, saying, "In the approximately 30-minute private meeting, any agenda can be discussed."

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