Yoon: "North Korea's Nuclear Threat Is an Existential Danger Capable of Striking All EAS Participating Countries"

Yoon Mentions International Issues Including North Korea, Ukraine, South China Sea, Myanmar at EAS
Urges Participation in North Korea Sanctions... Also Targets China and Russia
Contributes to Establishing a Rules-Based International Order Based on Universal Values

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 7th that "North Korea's nuclear and missile development is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, a direct challenge to world peace, and an existential threat that could impact all East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries."

According to the Presidential Office, President Yoon made these remarks at the EAS held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Indonesia, calling for international sanctions against North Korea's advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities.

Launched in 2005, the EAS is a separate forum that expands the 'ASEAN+3 (South Korea, Japan, China)' framework, where heads of state freely express their views on strategic and political issues in the region. The EAS members include the 10 ASEAN countries, South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United States, and Russia.

At this meeting, President Yoon explained South Korea's stance on regional and international issues, including the North Korean problem, the Ukraine war, South China Sea conflicts, and the violence in Myanmar.

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Indonesia on the 7th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon pointed out to Russia, which is seeking to strengthen military cooperation through the North Korea-Russia summit, and China, which North Korea heavily depends on economically, that "the permanent members of the UN Security Council who have passed sanctions against North Korea bear heavy responsibility for the North Korean provocations." The permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France.

President Yoon particularly emphasized the need to block illegal activities such as virtual asset theft, overseas labor dispatch, and maritime transshipment to prevent North Korean threats, and also requested attention to North Korean human rights issues.

Regarding Russia, which initiated the war in Ukraine, President Yoon expressed the position that it is a clear violation of international law. He referred to South Korea's experience of facing a national existential crisis due to illegal invasion over 70 years ago and expressed support for Ukraine. He also clarified that during his visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in July on the occasion of attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, he announced the 'Ukraine Peace Solidarity Initiative.'

On the South China Sea conflict, where China and ASEAN countries are in opposition, President Yoon reiterated the stance that "attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force are unacceptable." He further stated, "It is necessary to establish a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea, a key maritime route in the region," promising to expand cooperation with ASEAN on maritime security while upholding freedom of navigation and overflight under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Regarding the ongoing violence following the Myanmar military coup, President Yoon expressed support for ASEAN's resolution through inclusive dialogue. He stated his intention to "provide humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar."

Additionally, President Yoon mentioned the trilateral cooperation agreed upon at the 'South Korea-US-Japan Summit' held last month at Camp David in the United States, saying, "The driving force that unites the three countries is a shared responsibility for freedom, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." Based on this, President Yoon expressed his intention to contribute to establishing a rules-based international order grounded in universal values and to expand regional contributions for inclusive and sustainable growth.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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