Foreign Minister: "A Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula Is an Absolute Task That Must Never Be Abandoned"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun stated on the 18th, "A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is an absolute task that must never be abandoned."

In a keynote speech at the Seoul Diplomatic Forum held at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on this day, Minister Cho emphasized, "Korea’s top priority in the security sector is to prevent war and to ensure the Korean Peninsula does not become a flashpoint for armed conflict." The speech was delivered on his behalf by Ambassador for International Cyber Cooperation Yoon Jongkwon.

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is delivering the opening remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2025 APEC Foreign Affairs and Trade Joint Ministerial Meeting held at the Grand Ballroom of Sono Calm Gyeongju in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do on the morning of October 30, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Minister Cho also said, "Korea will continue to strengthen its own defense capabilities based on the firm South Korea-United States combined defense posture." However, he added, "Such measures alone are not sufficient, and efforts to prevent accidental clashes, ease tensions, and restore dialogue with North Korea must be pursued in parallel."

Minister Cho further mentioned the recent global trend of prioritizing national interests and North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, stating, "Korea is facing increasingly complex strategic calculations," and emphasized, "Pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy based on the national interest is not a choice, but an essential task for Korea."

He continued, "However, prioritizing pragmatism and national interest does not mean Korea will neglect its global responsibilities. If a country with Korea’s stature and standing fails to fulfill its responsibilities beyond its borders, the international order will become more fragile and, ultimately, this will harm Korea’s own national interests."

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