Yoon Seeks Major Multilateral Diplomatic Stage Amid Close North Korea-Russia Ties

Morning of the 18th, Departure to the US for UN General Assembly Attendance
Plans to Contribute to Development, Climate Response, and Digital Transformation
Also Announces Plan to Release Digital Rights Charter
Full Effort for 2030 Expo in Over 30 Bilateral Meetings

President Yoon Suk-yeol departed on the 18th to attend the '78th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week' held in New York, USA. At this UN General Assembly, President Yoon plans to strongly condemn the military exchanges recently discussed at the North Korea-Russia summit. As North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to strengthen military cooperation that undermines the UN Security Council's sanctions against North Korea, President Yoon aims to repeatedly garner international consensus on sanctions against North Korea at the UN General Assembly, the largest multilateral meeting.

On the same day, President Yoon and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, departed for the United States from Seongnam Airport in Seoul aboard Air Force One, the presidential aircraft. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, Chief Secretary Kim Dae-gi, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jang Ho-jin, and Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, saw off the presidential couple. President Yoon wore a gray necktie, and the First Lady was dressed in a gray skirt suit. She also carried a handbag adorned with a keychain promoting the Busan 2030 World Expo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the third day of his visit to the United States, on the 20th (local time), President Yoon will deliver the keynote speech at the UN General Assembly. This will be President Yoon's second speech at the UN General Assembly since taking office, following last year. In this speech, he plans to emphasize South Korea's responsible role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2024-2025 in matters such as peace in Ukraine and sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile advancements.

In particular, he will highlight the responsibility of permanent members such as Russia and China, which are strengthening military and economic exchanges with North Korea, thereby increasing pressure on sanctions against North Korea. Earlier, in a written interview with the Associated Press released the previous day, President Yoon warned, "The North Korea-Russia military cooperation is illegal and unjust cooperation that violates UN Security Council resolutions and various international sanctions," adding, "The international community will unite more firmly to respond to this." He also emphasized that, regarding the possibility of North Korea's nuclear and missile attacks, the North Korean regime will come to an end through the overwhelming response of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Additionally, President Yoon plans to announce contributions to emerging countries that lag behind developed nations in areas such as development, climate response, and digital transformation. On the 21st, he will attend the 'Digital Vision Forum' held at New York University and unveil the 'Digital Bill of Rights,' which outlines the basic direction of the new digital normative order.

With the final vote for the 2030 Expo host city scheduled for the end of November at the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) General Assembly, President Yoon intends to devote full efforts to last-minute promotion through bilateral meetings. From the first day of his arrival in New York, he plans to hold a series of bilateral meetings and engage in talks or receptions with at least 30 countries until just before his departure.

President Yoon plans to conclude his 4-night, 6-day schedule by departing New York on the 22nd and arriving in Seoul on the 23rd.

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