Yoon Holds Summit with South African President... "Strengthening Trade, Investment, and Energy Cooperation"

Cooperation Including North Provocations and Deployment of Combat Troops to Russia

Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to attend the Group of Twenty (G20) summit, held a summit meeting with President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa on the 19th (local time) to discuss practical cooperation measures between the two countries.

President Yoon said, "I congratulate President Ramaphosa on his successful re-election this year, which marks the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa," and added, "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, I hope to continue strengthening the mutually beneficial partnership between our two countries, which has been enhanced in various fields."

President Yoon especially expressed his gratitude by mentioning South Africa’s deployment of an air force unit known as the 'Flying Cheetahs' during the Korean War, who fought alongside to protect Korea’s liberal democracy.

President Ramaphosa said, "Korea’s successful economic development experience inspires many countries, including South Africa," and added, "I hope to further strengthen practical cooperation between our two countries in various fields such as trade, investment, and energy." He also expressed hope to closely cooperate with Korea, a model country that has achieved development through education, to improve the level of education in South Africa.

The two leaders agreed that cooperation in the field of critical minerals is becoming increasingly important in response to global supply chain instability, and decided to continue seeking ways to cooperate between the two countries.

President Yoon introduced that Korea is preparing to launch the 'Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Dialogue' on the occasion of the 'Mining Indaba' forum to be held in South Africa in February next year, and requested President Ramaphosa’s interest. The Mining Indaba is Africa’s largest annual mining forum held in Cape Town, South Africa since 1994.

Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to continue cooperating to ensure that the international community sends a firm message regarding North Korea’s provocations and violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, such as the dispatch of combat troops to Russia. The presidential office also reported that they agreed to communicate closely and cooperate for the successful hosting of the G20 summit, which will be held in South Africa next year as the first African host.