Seoul, 4 November 2024
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union/European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Cho Tae-yul held the first-ever EU-ROK Strategic Dialogue in Seoul on 4 November.
During the dialogue High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Cho announced the EU-ROK Security and Defence Partnership, which constitutes a joint non-binding political framework for reinforced cooperation (NBI). This new political framework for enhanced cooperation on security and defence will streamline and further strengthen dialogue and cooperation on key areas such as maritime security and operational cooperation, space security and defence, cyber issues, countering hybrid threats and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), counter terrorism, training and education, non-proliferation and disarmament. The agreement underlines the strategic importance of strengthening our joint capacity to address growing and complex security challenges.
In their discussions, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Cho reaffirmed their unwavering joint commitment to peace, stability and prosperity, grounded in shared values and common interests. They highlighted the importance of closer collaboration on regional and global security, with particular focus on the interconnected security environments of Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The High Representative and the Foreign Minister reiterated their unwavering commitment to maintaining support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s war of aggression, and their condemnation of third-country support to Russia’s illegal war of aggression. They also shared their joint grave concerns over Russia’s military cooperation with the DPRK notably the deployment of DPRK troops to participate in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia, which flagrantly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The High Representative and the Foreign Minister also shared serious concerns about the situation in the South China Sea. They expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and increase tensions that could undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order. Both reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Cho expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East. They called for an immediate ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border and in Gaza, as well as for the release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian access. They stressed the need for a renewed focus on a two-state solution, and the protection of civilians and peacekeepers in conflict zones, particularly in line with UN mandates.
Background
The establishment of a Strategic Dialogue at foreign ministerial level was agreed at the 2023 EU-ROK Summit, and marks a new chapter in strengthening our relations in geopolitical and security-related issues.
Source – EEAS
South Korea: Press remarks by the High Representative ahead of the EU-Republic of Korea Strategic Dialogue
Seoul, 4 November 2024
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Thank you, dear Minister [for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Cho Tae-yul].Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure for me to be here. For my country, Spain, times are difficult, and I thank you for your condolences.
But I am here as a European to announce the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and [the Republic of] Korea.
And I remember very well that in May 2023, in the summit here in Seoul, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. And this 60th anniversary was an important moment, and it marked the beginning of the work to announce today the Security and Defence Partnership.
And I am very happy and very pleased to be here with you, dear Minister, in this inaugural Strategic Dialogue, where we will be laying the foundation for closer and enhanced engagement on our key foreign policy issues.
I know that for you also the times are difficult.
I was visiting yesterday the demarcation line [Demilitarized Zone] between North Korea and South Korea, remembering your history and paying tribute to the soldiers which are buried on the cemetery that I visited also yesterday.
We are strategic partners. We share values and common goals. We share a partnership. And this is important in this current geopolitical context, challenging for both of us and based on our common will to build a better future for our people.
Geopolitical tensions are increasing, and climate change also is a threat. Technological disruption is a reality.
The Indo-Pacific is at the heart of many of the global shifts, be it digital transformation, be it climate change, be it the rise of China. In our interconnected world, political, economic, and security developments are not confined to geographical boundaries because climate change doesn’t know about boundaries, and geopolitical tensions come from the war in Ukraine onto the Indo-Pacific waters here in the Korean Peninsula.
The developments in this peninsula and in Ukraine, in Korea and in Ukraine, they are far away, but they are interlinked, as you know very well, including the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia, which illustrates the importance of our shared security agenda.
This is not a rhetorical, nor a theoretical approach. It is because the war is at the borders of Europe, and it is because, in this war, North Korean troops are going to participate. So, this increases the need for us to work together, guided by common interests and shared values, and with the will to strengthen our efforts to show that democracies deliver best for our citizens.
Not only do they deliver freedom – political freedom – they also deliver prosperity, well-being, and social cohesion. Democracies and cooperation among democracies are the best way to reach peace and prosperity for our people – for the Koreans, and the European people – and for the rest of the world.
Once again, thank you very much for your warm welcome. And once again, [I am] very happy to be [back] in Korea.
Thank you.
Watch the video[starting at 1:50]
Source – EEAS
DPRK/Russia: Joint Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul on DPRK-Russia Cooperation
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) continued unlawful arms transfers to the Russian Federation for its use in attacking Ukraine and the deployment of DPRK special forces to Russia, supporting Russia’s unlawful war of aggression. This constitutes a serious breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter. Such cooperation between the DPRK and Russia is not only in flagrant violation of multiple UNSC resolutions, but it also prolongs the suffering of the Ukrainian people and threatens the security of the world, including that of the Republic of Korea and Europe.
We are closely monitoring what Russia provides to the DPRK in return for its provision of arms and military personnel, including Russia’s possible provision of materials and technology to the DPRK in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives. We are also deeply concerned about the possibility for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to the DPRK, which would jeopardise the international non-proliferation efforts and threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the globe.
We strongly call on the DPRK and Russia to immediately cease unlawful military cooperation and withdraw DPRK troops from Russia. We reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and urge the DPRK to take concrete steps towards abandoning all nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and related programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapon State in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We are concerned about the disturbing shift of Russia’s position on the denuclearization of the DPRK, as expressed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and call on Russia to abide by its obligations under the NPT and multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
We take note that the security of the Indo-Pacific and European regions are more closely intertwined than ever, and commit ourselves to closely monitoring the situation and actively pursuing necessary measures together with the international community.
Source – EEAS