President Moon holds summit with UK Prime Minister... Urges support for Korean Peninsula denuclearization

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in held a summit meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the 20th (local time) during his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, USA.

This meeting, requested by the British side, was held about 100 days after the Korea-UK summit during the G7 summit in June.

The two leaders broadly exchanged views on ▲bilateral relations and substantive cooperation ▲global issues such as climate change and COVID-19 response ▲the Korean Peninsula and regional situation. In particular, they evaluated that the two countries have continued high-level exchanges even amid the COVID-19 situation and discussed revitalizing high-level exchanges and strengthening cooperation.

They also evaluated the rapid resumption of trade and investment between the two countries this year, which had been contracted due to the impact of COVID-19, and agreed on expanding trade between the two countries. Trade volume between Korea and the UK decreased from $9.7 billion in 2019 to $8.9 billion last year, but increased by 40% to $5.9 billion in the first half of this year compared to the previous year.

The two leaders evaluated that the two countries are contributing to international discussions on global issues and agreed to actively cooperate at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held in the UK this November. Prime Minister Johnson requested the Korean government’s interest in the successful hosting of COP26 in his country and asked President Moon to attend the leaders’ session.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon explained the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Korea’s denuclearization efforts on the Peninsula, and requested the continuous support of the UK, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a key ally, for North Korea’s return to dialogue and progress in the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

In particular, President Moon expressed deep concern over North Korea’s consecutive missile launches at a time when stability in the situation is very urgent and emphasized the need for relevant countries to continuously strive for stable management of the situation and early resumption of dialogue.

In response, Prime Minister Johnson reaffirmed the UK’s support for the Korean government’s diplomatic efforts to advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and said they would cooperate to seek possible engagement with North Korea.

The Blue House evaluated, “This Korea-UK summit on the occasion of the UN General Assembly became an opportunity to discuss in greater depth cooperation measures between Korea and the UK at both bilateral and multilateral levels through active summit diplomacy with the UK, which is the G7 chair country this year and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”