S. Korea, EU to strengthen cooperation in security, supply chains

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after their summit at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

'EU will never accept NK's possession of nuclear weapons'

By Nam Hyun-woo

South Korea agreed to enhance security and supply chain cooperation with the European Union (EU) during President Yoon Suk Yeol's summit with EU leaders, Monday, in an apparent bid to strengthen cooperation with Western democracies.

Yoon held the summit with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Seoul, a day after they participated in the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

The summit took place to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations this year. It was the first in-person summit between the South Korean and EU leaders in five years and it was the first time in 11 years that the two EU presidents visited Seoul at the same time.

During the summit, they agreed to establish a strategic dialogue at the foreign ministerial level to enhance cooperation in global peace and security.

"By establishing the strategic dialogue, we will strengthen comprehensive security cooperation in various fields," Yoon said during a joint press conference after the summit.

"Since the respective Indo-Pacific strategies of South Korea and the EU state each other as a key partner and share core prospects in common, we decided to strengthen our partnership for the freedom, peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region."

The European Council president also said cooperation between the EU and South Korea became "vital for the safety" in the wake of Russia's continued large-scale attacks on Ukraine.

Michel expressed his gratitude for Yoon's recent condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stressed that the security of Europe and the Pacific region are closely connected.

The European Commission president likened the EU's condemnation of Russia to Seoul's response to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

"The EU will never accept the DPRK's possession of nuclear weapons," von der Leyen said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Just like we do not accept Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, we condemn the DPRK's constant nuclear saber-rattling. We stand firmly by the ROK" or Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Yoon added, "We shared our recognition that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a serious threat to global security and agreed to closely coordinate for the international society's unified responses against North Korea's provocations."

During the summit, the leaders launched two new South Korea-EU partnerships in the green and health sectors to better tackle climate change and ensure health emergency preparedness.

They also agreed to develop the existing South Korea-EU Digital Trade Principles to address issues relevant to digital trade, an open digital economy and the emergence of unjustified barriers to digital trade.

To improve supply chain resilience, they agreed to expand the existing Industrial Policy Dialogue to a Supply Chain and Industrial Policy Dialogue (SCIPD), with the aim of holding the first SCIPD session within this year.

At the same time, the leaders said they will continue consultations on the EU Chips Act, aimed at doubling the EU's global semiconductor market share to at least 20 percent by 2030.

President Yoon Suk Yeol holds hands with European Council President Charles Michel, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during their summit at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The EU summit was part of a flurry of diplomatic events the South Korean leader attended this month, during which he delivered strong messages that the South is strengthening its coupling with Western democracies.

A day earlier in Japan, Yoon had a brief meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Although the content of their talks was not revealed, the three countries each released statements saying they will strengthen trilateral security cooperation, which was viewed as a warning not only to North Korea but also China.

Yoon also held summits with the leaders of the U.K., Germany, Canada, India, Australia and Ukraine at the G7 Summit and issued strong messages against "attempts to change the status quo by force," where were viewed as condemnations of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's claim to Taiwan.

As concerns rise over South Korea's strong coupling with Western democracies, Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of national security, said during an interview with broadcaster YTN that the South is "seeking to start a strategic dialogue with China and the two sides are exchanging plans."

Regarding Russia, which has responded angrily to Seoul's condemnation of its invasion of Ukraine, Kim said, "(Seoul's) support of Ukraine is mostly about reconstruction or humanitarian aid, so I don't think Russia needs to make political complaints about that."