Yoon: "Russo-North Korean Military Deal a Direct Provocation Against Republic of Korea... Will Not Stand By" (Comprehensive)

Direct Hits on Russia and North Korea in UN General Assembly Keynote Speech
South Korea Expands Official Development Assistance... Support for Climate Crisis and ICT
Full-Scale Campaign to Host 2030 Busan Expo

President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 20th (local time) that South Korea and its allies and partners will not stand idly by amid concerns that North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities will be strengthened through military exchanges with Russia.

In his keynote speech at the 78th United Nations General Assembly held in New York, USA, President Yoon stated, "If North Korea obtains information and technology necessary to enhance its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities in exchange for providing conventional weapons to Russia, the military transactions between Russia and North Korea will be provocations directly targeting not only Ukraine but also the security and peace of the Republic of Korea."

Directly targeting Russia and North Korea simultaneously... "UN Security Council permanent members supporting regimes violating resolutions is self-contradictory"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon directly criticized North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un's recent visit to Russia, where he held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed to expand military exchanges between North Korea and Russia. President Yoon said, "This is not only a direct and existential threat to the peace of the Republic of Korea but also a serious challenge to peace in the Indo-Pacific region and the world." He pointed out, "It is self-contradictory that the UN Security Council permanent members, who should be the ultimate guardians of world peace, invade neighboring countries by force, start wars, and receive support for weapons and military supplies necessary for conducting war from regimes that blatantly violate UN Security Council resolutions."

President Yoon also emphasized that South Korea, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2024-2025, will fulfill its responsibilities by cooperating with UN member states to pass on an international order where justice and the rule of law thrive, as well as sustainable freedom, peace, and prosperity to future generations. By condemning North Korea and Russia and stressing South Korea's role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council next year, he is interpreted as aiming to repeatedly pressure Russia and North Korea and gain international support.

He reaffirmed the commitment to help rebuild Ukraine. President Yoon said, "The Korean government will implement a comprehensive support program covering security, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction under the Ukraine Peace Solidarity Initiative pledge," adding, "As announced at the G20 summit two weeks ago, next year we will provide $300 million in grants and prepare an additional mid- to long-term support package exceeding $2 billion to actively assist Ukraine's reconstruction."

South Korea expands official development assistance... Formation of 'CF Alliance' and hosting AI Global Forum

President Yoon Suk-yeol introduced on the 20th (local time) that South Korea will provide an additional $300 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help vulnerable countries reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy. Despite a fiscal tightening policy, the government plans to increase the official development assistance (ODA) budget by about 40% next year to strengthen global solidarity. Regarding the Carbon Free Alliance (CF Alliance), he explained, "The Republic of Korea will broadly utilize not only renewable energy but also high-efficiency carbon-free energy such as nuclear power and hydrogen as realistic alternatives to accelerate achieving carbon neutrality," adding, "Anyone worldwide can participate in spreading carbon-free energy."

He also announced plans to release a Digital Rights Charter to prevent the misuse of AI and digital technology and the spread of fake news, as well as to host an AI Global Forum. President Yoon emphasized, "If we fail to stop the spread of fake news created by the misuse of AI and digital technology, our freedom will be threatened, the market economy based on liberal democracy will be endangered, and our future will also be at risk." He envisions supporting the establishment of related international organizations within the UN and providing a network for communication and collaboration among experts worldwide.

He reiterated South Korea's commitment to lead in areas such as ICT support for digital transformation in developing countries and the formation of global digital norms related to AI. President Yoon explained, "Now, with the advancement of digital technology, all cultures and industries are transitioning to a digital-based paradigm. The digital divide means an economic divide. Therefore, closing the digital divide will facilitate solving global South issues."

Full effort to host the 2030 Busan Expo at the UN General Assembly... "Providing a platform for solidarity"

In his keynote speech, President Yoon said, "The 2030 Busan World Expo will provide a platform for solidarity where global citizens overcome crises together while expanding freedom," and made a full effort to request support for hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo. With the final vote for the 2030 Expo hosting site just over two months away, he sought to turn the tide by explaining the rationale for Busan's bid on the world's largest multilateral diplomatic stage. Since arriving in New York on the 18th, President Yoon has held summit meetings with more than 20 countries, appealing for support for Busan's bid for the 2030 Expo.

President Yoon said, "If it were not for Busan, the city that served as the last bastion of freedom for the Republic of Korea when most of the Korean Peninsula was occupied following the armed invasion by communist forces over 70 years ago, and the city that rose from the ruins of the Korean War to become the world's second-largest transshipment port and lead the 'Miracle on the Han River,' today's Republic of Korea would not exist." He promised, "By hosting the 2030 Expo in Busan, the gateway connecting the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of Korea intends to actively fulfill its role as a responsible global nation. We aim to widely share the experiences of growth and development we have achieved with the international community and give back the support we have received."

President Yoon also emphasized, "The 1851 London Expo was the Industrial Revolution Expo. The 1900 Paris Expo was the Cultural Expo. The 1962 Seattle Expo was the Expo that opened the space age. The 2000 Hanover Expo was the Environmental Expo," adding, "The 2030 Busan Expo will be the Expo of solidarity." Furthermore, he stressed, "The foreign policy direction of the Republic of Korea government is freedom and solidarity. In line with this, the 2030 Busan Expo will provide a platform for global citizens to overcome crises together while expanding freedom," and asserted, "The Busan Expo will be a festival space sharing the history, culture, products, and future visions of countries worldwide and will greatly contribute to the freedom, peace, and prosperity of global citizens."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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