Im Jong-seok "UAE Invites President Moon as Guest of Honor to Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Completion Ceremony"

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Im Jong-seok, former Chief Presidential Secretary and Special Envoy for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stated on the 21st, "Fuel loading has been completed at Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, a symbol of Korea-UAE cooperation, and the Operation Ceremony declaring its completion is finally scheduled for next month." He added, "The UAE has invited most neighboring country leaders to this event and has specifically informed us that President Moon Jae-in is invited as the guest of honor."

Im, who visited Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, from the 18th to the 20th on a one-night, three-day trip as a special presidential envoy, shared on his Facebook that "it was an immensely rewarding time." He further explained, "As Barakah Nuclear Power Plant enters the operational phase, a comprehensive full-cycle cooperation system covering construction, operation, maintenance, fuel, and post-processing between Korea and the UAE will be established, along with a new level of cooperation jointly exploring third-country expansion."

Im also said, "Recently, Korea and the UAE have been actively cooperating in defense industry, and the term 'special strategic partnership' is insufficient to describe the dazzling development of relations between the two countries." He expressed hope, "If the third summit between the two leaders takes place soon, I believe very high-level consultations that will rewrite Korea's defense industry history will be conducted."

He added, "President Moon and Crown Prince Mohamed resemble each other in many ways," noting, "Their quiet personalities and considerate attitudes toward others are almost identical. In modern terms, their 'chemistry' fits well." He continued, "Crown Prince Mohamed has firmly established himself as the most respected leader in the Arab world," and concluded, "Following the deepening friendship and trust between the two leaders, I am confident that a new chapter in Korea-UAE and Korea-Middle East diplomacy will be written."