Yoon to attend NATO summit, visit Poland
First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo speaks during a press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday, about President Yoon Suk Yeol's plan to attend the 2023 NATO Summit in Lithuania and visit Poland. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend this year's summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Lithuania and visit Poland next week, the presidential office announced, Thursday.
Yoon will first visit the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius from July 10 to 12 to attend the gathering of the world's largest military alliance as the leader of a partner country. It will be Yoon's second time attending a NATO summit following last year's edition in Madrid, Spain.
“During the summit, President Yoon will share South Korea's plans to contribute to the peace of Ukraine, and realize Seoul's diplomatic responsibility to the global community,” First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo said during a press conference.
“Also, Yoon will specify his ideas on the partnership between South Korea and NATO, and send a resolute warning regarding North Korea's illegal missile threats.”
On July 11, Yoon will have a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and summits with the leaders of more than five countries, including Norway and the Netherlands.
On July 12, Yoon will attend the NATO summit and have a four-way meeting with the leaders of the so-called AP4 countries: South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The AP4 summit is aimed at discussing cooperation plans between these countries and NATO members. In so doing, chances are high that the leaders may also discuss how to respond to attempts ― by China ― to change the status quo, through the use of force or intimidation tactics.
Kim said Yoon will have bilateral meetings with leaders of more than 10 countries during his trip and the South Korean presidential office is now coordinating a summit between Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as well.
Gaining attention is what the president will speak about regarding China and Russia during the gathering of European allies of the United States and how Beijing will respond.
China has already raised its voice against this year's NATO summit.
When asked about the summit between the AP4 countries on the sidelines of the NATO meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in the June 30 press briefing that “the NATO summit needs to look at how it can work constructively for peace and stability in Europe and beyond, rather than making an issue about China.”
South Korea's potential military support for Ukraine could be discussed during the NATO summit. Watchers expect that decisions will likely be made regarding NATO member countries' material support including lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Yoon in their May summit for increased support concerning non-lethal military aid.
A senior official of the presidential office said “non-lethal military and humanitarian aid are now in the shipping process,” but “chances are slim for South Korea to offer a different aid package.” He added that South Korea will determine its aid to Ukraine according to the situation of the war.
A possible summit between Yoon and Kishida is also drawing keen attention. Japanese media outlets have been reporting that Kishida will likely meet Yoon next week and explain to Yoon Tokyo's plan regarding the release of wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
“There has been no prior discussion over which agenda will be on the table,” the senior official said. “There is a chance that the wastewater issue will be mentioned by Japan, and Yoon will likely stress the importance of Korean people's safety.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their summit on the sidelines of the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21. Joint Press Corps
Sales pitch in Poland
Yoon will then visit Poland for an official visit from July 12 to 14, becoming the first South Korean president to visit Poland since 2019.
Kim said Yoon will attend a summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda on July 13 to strengthen their strategic partnership, and then meet other high-ranking politicians from the country. On July 14, Yoon and Duda will attend a business forum to explore the possibility of expanding the two countries' economic ties. Yoon will return to Seoul on July 15.
In Poland, Yoon is anticipated to focus on promoting South Korea's sales pitch to Poland in the fields of Ukraine's post-war rebuilding efforts, nuclear energy and defense.
According to senior presidential secretary for economy Choi Sang-mok, Poland is one of the countries sharing borders with Ukraine, and will be the “hub for Ukraine's post-war rebuilding projects.”
“During the Yoon-Zelenskyy summit, the Ukrainian president asked South Korea to support Kyiv's post-war rebuilding aims, and many countries are cooperating with Poland to participate in Ukraine's rebuilding projects,” Choi said. “Since South Korean businesses are also making proactive efforts for this, Yoon will hear the difficulties that those companies are facing and explore how the government can assist them.”
Along with Yoon, South Korean business leaders from 89 companies will visit Poland to seek expansions in the two countries' economic relations. They include LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun.