Yoon: "Strong International Sanctions Are Effective in Blocking North Korea's Nuclear Program"

President Yoon's Written Interview with AP
International Sanctions Prevent Nuclear and Missile Advancement
Security Cooperation Talks with US and Japan Leaders
Expected Discussion with Prime Minister Kishida on Fukushima Nuclear Waste

President Yoon Suk-yeol urged that "the international community's resolve to deter North Korea's nuclear weapons must clearly be stronger than North Korea's will to develop nuclear weapons."

In a written interview with AP published on the 10th, a day before the NATO summit held in Vilnius, Lithuania, President Yoon stated, "I will emphasize the importance of international cooperation against North Korea's illegal activities together with NATO leaders."

President Yoon will visit Lithuania and Poland, a country neighboring Ukraine, consecutively for the 4 nights and 6 days NATO summit starting from that day. He emphasized, "Peace must be supported by strong power and deterrence to be reliably trusted," adding, "Strong international sanctions against North Korea are effective in preventing the advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities." This reiterated the need for international participation in extended deterrence to prevent nuclear attacks.

He also mentioned the necessity of cooperation between NATO and Indo-Pacific countries. President Yoon explained, "Just as events in Europe have substantial and significant impacts on the Indo-Pacific region, events in the Indo-Pacific region can also have great effects on European countries," and added, "Especially, through the Ukraine war, we can reaffirm the global impact of security crises in specific regions."

President Yoon added that a new bilateral cooperation document covering 11 areas including non-proliferation and cyber will be signed to institutionalize cooperation between South Korea and NATO.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

AP reported that President Yoon said he would have the opportunity to discuss topics such as the U.S. security commitment and strengthening trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan with U.S. President Joe Biden at the NATO summit, and that he plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. It is expected that President Yoon and President Biden will discuss follow-up measures related to the Washington Declaration agreed upon last April.

Regarding the meeting plan with Prime Minister Kishida, he mentioned, "We will be able to discuss not only the advancement of bilateral relations but also ways to expand mutual solidarity and international cooperation." The upcoming South Korea-Japan summit is expected to include the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on the agenda.

He also shared plans to support Ukraine, where the war with Russia is prolonged. President Yoon said, regarding the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam, which supplies cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant last month due to unknown causes, "We have already provided support to Ukraine for repairs."

Since meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, in May, South Korea has been supplying mine-clearing equipment and ambulances.

President Yoon promised, "The South Korean government will continue to play the necessary role together with the international community to protect Ukraine's freedom," and "We will also prepare multifaceted support measures to swiftly restore peace and reconstruction in postwar Ukraine."

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