South Koran Foreign Minister vows pragmatic approach to Korean Peninsula denuclearisation
Seoul, June 25
South Korea will pursue a phased and practical approach to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and stronger cooperation with like-minded countries to advance regional peace and stability, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Thursday.
Cho outlined South Korea's foreign policy priorities during an official dinner for participants of the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity underway on the southern resort island of Jeju, according to the ministry, Yonhap news agency reported.
"We will pursue sustainable peace and coexistence, while taking a phased and practical approach toward the goal of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula," he said, underscoring the importance of peaceful coexistence and conflict prevention.
Cho also reaffirmed the country's commitment to strengthening its own defence capabilities based on the South Korea-US alliance, while expanding cooperation with like-minded countries, including the Group of Seven (G7), as well as emerging and developing countries in the Global South.
South Korea will seek to serve as a bridge among nations by leveraging its strengths in development cooperation, advanced technology and culture, while contributing to efforts to address climate change, public health and challenges linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the minister noted.
The dinner was attended by senior government officials, former heads of state, candidates for United Nations secretary-general, diplomats, lawmakers and other prominent speakers participating in the annual forum, according to the foreign ministry.
Under the theme "Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World," the three-day international forum will continue till Friday, bringing together about 4,500 officials and experts from dozens of countries for 68 sessions on North Korea, diplomacy, freedom of navigation and various other relevant issues.
Prior to the dinner, Cho held meetings with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gumrukcu and French Ambassador for the Indo-Pacific Dana Purcarescu, and discussed ways to respond to growing geopolitical uncertainties and strengthen strategic partnerships, the ministry said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Phased approach is the only way forward when dealing with North Korea. Look at how many times previous agreements failed because they tried to do everything at once. South Korea is learning from past mistakes. India can learn from this too - our neighborhood diplomacy could use some pragmatism.
It's good that South Korea is thinking about AI and climate change alongside security issues. But I hope this 'pragmatic approach' doesn't mean they'll compromise too much on human rights. North Korea's record is abysmal. Peace can't come at any cost.
India should take notes from this Jeju Forum format - bringing together experts, ex-leaders, and UN candidates for serious discussions. We host so many conferences but often they feel like talkfests. This seems more action-oriented. Also, South Korea balancing US alliance with Global South outreach is impressive. 🇮🇳🇰🇷
I wish our politicians talked about 'phased and practical approaches' to issues like Kashmir rather than just making fiery statements. South Korea's maturity in dealing with a hostile neighbor is commendable. They know denuclearisation won't happen overnight, so they're building step by step.
Interesting to see South Korea positioning itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations. They're leveraging their soft power (tech, culture) effectively. The K-wave plus defense cooperation is a smart combination. But I wonder how much China will tolerate this expanding South Korea-US-G7 alignment.
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