S. Korea, UK sign Downing Street Accord to upgrade ties to 'highest level'

President Yoon Suk Yeol poses with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty at 10 Downing Street, in London, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

LONDON — President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a summit, Wednesday (local time), and signed the Downing Street Accord aimed at elevating bilateral ties to what both sides said is the "highest level of strategic ambition."

The summit came on the occasion of Yoon’s state visit to the United Kingdom to commemorate the 140th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The accord is a blueprint of the future partnership of both countries that spans national security, defense, science, technology and other fields.

“The Republic of Korea and the U.K. are signing the new Downing Street Accord today to strengthen and deepen our collaboration across the fields of security and defense, science and technology, prosperity and trade and energy security,” the accord read.

“This will ensure that the ties between our countries, our economies and our people are raised to the highest level of strategic ambition, to endure for this century and beyond.”

Comprised of 13 paragraphs and 45 tasks, the accord is a non-binding political document. It reflects the next phase of the partnership between the two countries, by determining the basic principle and the direction of bilateral relations, their common stance on major international issues and the fields of future cooperation.

In the accord, the leaders agreed to elevate diplomatic relations to a global strategic partnership, so that the two countries can deepen cooperation across all fields.

To this end, the leaders decided to create a new two-plus-two ministerial dialogue involving the foreign and defense ministers of both countries and work together to sign a joint Defense Memorandum of Understanding.

They will conduct joint South Korea-U.K. sanctions enforcement patrols against North Korea to put United Nation Security Council sanctions into practice.

Also, the two countries will establish a Strategic Cyber Partnership focused on developing key capabilities and closer coordination to counter cyber threats and strengthen collaboration with industries.

Following the accord, the U.K. became the third country to hold a two-plus-two ministerial dialogue with South Korea, following the United States and Australia. Also, the Strategic Cyber Partnership is the first of its kind to be signed by the leaders of each country and connects South Korea’s cybersecurity network with a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during their summit at 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

In the field of science and technology, the leaders agreed to launch a digital partnership to foster collaborations in telecommunication supply chain diversification, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

The accord noted that the two countries will open negotiations to upgrade their free trade agreement to reflect the importance of emerging trade agendas, such as supply chain resilience, the digital economy, and energy cooperation.

During a South Korea-U.K. business forum that took place hours before the summit, Yoon said the negotiations to upgrade the trade pact will “fully reflect the opinions of the two countries’ business leaders and set up new norms in the digital, supply chain and energy fields” to create “a playground for both countries’ companies.”

The accord also included the shared views of the two countries on geopolitical issues, including the leaders’ strong condemnation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and the purported military cooperation between the North and Russia.

“We oppose all forms of arms transfers and related military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, and urge the two sides to abide by relevant resolutions,” the accord read. DPRK is an acronym for North Korea’s official name.

Yoon and Sunak also echoed their condemnation of Russia’s “unprovoked aggression against Ukraine” and “the abhorrent terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas.” The leaders stressed that the two countries “remain committed to making progress toward a two-state solution,” which refers to the proposed idea of establishing two states for two peoples.

Regarding increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, the leaders stressed that they oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the region and noted that peace and stability across the strait is “an indispensable element in the security and prosperity of the international community.”

“The Downing Street Accord encompasses every field of cooperation for the bilateral strategic partnership,” South Korea’s First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo said.

“And it will serve as a blueprint and a compass for the two countries new global strategic partnership.”