Yoon Meets with President Ortega, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, to Cooperate on North Korea Response

Yoon Discusses Development Cooperation Plan with Arta, President of Timor-Leste
Arta Requests Economic Development Participation from Korean Government and Companies

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Jos? Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, on the 2nd to discuss bilateral relations, cooperation on the international stage, and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. President Ramos-Horta pledged to actively participate in coordinated efforts for a unified response to North Korea.

On the same day, President Yoon held a meeting with President Ramos-Horta, who was visiting Korea to attend the '2023 Jeju Forum,' at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as development, labor, education, and forestry between the two countries.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 2nd.
Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, the two leaders agreed that the special relationship between the two countries, which began when the Republic of Korea dispatched the Sangnoksu Unit as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UN PKO) to support Timor-Leste's independence in 1999, has steadily developed. President Yoon explained that KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) is currently actively conducting development cooperation projects related to health and medical care, education and training, and the environment throughout Timor-Leste.

They also congratulated Timor-Leste on obtaining observer status at the ASEAN Summit last year, with the prospect of joining ASEAN as a full member. President Yoon stated, "As our government is deepening cooperation with ASEAN, we hope that Timor-Leste's eventual accession to ASEAN will further enhance cooperation between our two countries." In response, President Ramos-Horta said, "We draw much inspiration from Korea's remarkable development experience and innovation," and requested, "We hope that the Korean government and companies will join us in Timor-Leste's economic development."

Timor-Leste also expressed strong support for Korea's hosting of the Busan World Expo, its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and the election of a judge to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Furthermore, the two leaders condemned North Korea's launch of a 'long-range ballistic missile under the guise of a reconnaissance satellite' on the 31st of last month, despite warnings from the international community, emphasizing that this is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and an illegal act. President Ramos-Horta stated, "We will actively participate in coordinated efforts for a firm and unified international response to North Korea," and added, "We will firmly point out the North Korean regime's behavior at various international organizations and multilateral forums, including this Jeju Forum."