Yoon: "North Korea's Nuclear Development is a Dangerous and Irresponsible Act Undermining the Foundation of the International Non-Proliferation Regime"

Interview with State Daily Ahead of Kazakhstan State Visit
"Direct Flights Between Seoul and Nur-Sultan to Resume After 4 Years"

President Yoon Seok-yeol on a state visit to three Central Asian countries.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

During his state visits to three Central Asian countries, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 11th (local time) that "North Korea's nuclear development is a dangerous and irresponsible act that undermines the foundation of the international non-proliferation regime, which countries like South Korea and Kazakhstan have steadfastly protected and developed over the years."

In a written interview with Kazakhstan's state-run daily newspapers 'Egemen Kazakhstan' and 'Kazakhstanskaya Pravda' on the same day, President Yoon said, "Kazakhstan is a global model country for denuclearization, having voluntarily dismantled a large number of nuclear weapons inherited from the Soviet Union after independence."

On the other hand, despite repeated United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding North Korea abandon its nuclear development and the unified voice of the international community, North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, seriously threatening international peace and security. President Yoon emphasized, "Kazakhstan closed the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, where hundreds of nuclear tests were conducted during the Cold War," adding, "South Korea is also actively participating in the international community's efforts for denuclearization and non-proliferation."

Following his state visit to Turkmenistan the previous day, President Yoon, who was scheduled to move to Kazakhstan on the same day, described the summit to be held in Astana on the 12th as "an occasion for the two countries to deepen cooperation in key areas such as energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing, and further discuss ways to expand mutually beneficial cooperation into various future-oriented fields including critical minerals, science and technology, environment, agriculture, and climate change response."

Regarding the 'K-Central Asia Silk Road' cooperation initiative, he explained, "It contains a blueprint for future cooperation with Central Asia," emphasizing, "The goal is for South Korea and Central Asian countries to walk side by side based on the vision of freedom, peace, and prosperity, developing together innovatively and creatively."

President Yoon also announced that direct flights between Seoul (Incheon) and Astana would resume. He said, "Reflecting the increasingly close bilateral relations and the high travel demand of our citizens, direct flights between the two capitals, which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to resume after four years."

Kazakhstan, South Korea's Largest Trading Partner in Central Asia

President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to Turkmenistan, is speaking at the expanded Korea-Turkmenistan talks with Serdar Berdimuhamedow, President of Turkmenistan, held at the Presidential Palace in Ashgabat on the afternoon of the 10th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The current trade volume between South Korea and Kazakhstan has exceeded 6 billion dollars, increasing more than 500 times compared to when diplomatic relations were first established. President Yoon stated, "Kazakhstan has now become South Korea's largest trading and investment partner in Central Asia," adding, "The rapid expansion of cooperation between the two countries was possible because they have complementary industrial structures and have built a strong trust relationship through successful cooperation cases such as the Karabatan Combined Cycle Power Plant and the Almaty Ring Road."

He continued, "The South Korean government is focusing on supporting the establishment of ICT strategies tailored to Kazakhstan's policy environment, including the national artificial intelligence (AI) development strategy, measures to promote big data collection and utilization, and plans to build an integrated government cloud data center," expressing hope that "South Korea's successful experience in the ICT sector and the robust advanced technology cooperation between the two countries will contribute to Kazakhstan's economic transformation and ICT industry development."

The two countries also plan to strengthen cooperation in cultural and human exchanges. President Yoon said, "The South Korean government opened the first Korean Cultural Center in Central Asia in Astana in 2010," and added, "At the largest comic festival in Central Asia, 'Comic-Con,' to be held in Astana this September, a Korean promotional booth will be operated, showcasing various attractions such as K-pop performances and traditional craft experience events." Additionally, the Gwangju 'Asia Culture Museum' plans to hold a Central Asia special exhibition starting next year to introduce the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region to the Korean public.

President Yoon promised, "Kazakhstan is home to 120,000 ethnic Koreans, the second largest community in Central Asia, who share many similarities with South Korea in language, culture, and lifestyle," and pledged, "We will expand communication between the ethnic Koreans in Central Asia and those in South Korea, and promote initiatives to invite the next generation of ethnic Koreans to South Korea to experience Korean culture."

He added, "South Korea is actively opening its doors from traditional manufacturing to advanced sectors," and expressed hope that "the ongoing negotiations for designating new sending countries under the Employment Permit System will be successfully concluded during this summit."