Korea-Singapore Policy Consultations... North Korea Denuclearization, Cooperation Including ASEAN

South Korea and Singapore reaffirmed their cooperation for the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

Jung Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (right), and Kevin Chioh, Singapore Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, held the 5th Korea-Singapore Policy Consultation in Seoul on the 20th and are taking a commemorative photo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On the 20th, Jung Byung-won, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Korea, and Kevin Cheok, Asia-Pacific Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, held the 5th Korea-Singapore Policy Consultations in Seoul to discuss this matter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that both sides agreed that North Korea's continued development and provocations of nuclear weapons and missiles pose a serious threat to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula and the region but to the entire international community. Deputy Minister Jung stated, "The international community must continue to cooperate in response to North Korea's provocations and Russia-North Korea military cooperation, and for the complete denuclearization of North Korea," adding, "Let us continue to collaborate on multilateral platforms including ASEAN."

Furthermore, the two deputy ministers agreed to strive to faithfully implement follow-up measures from the Korea-Singapore summit held last October, including the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries this year. In particular, they agreed to expand mutually beneficial and strategic cooperation in areas addressing climate change such as global governance and technological utilization of artificial intelligence (AI), activation of regional carbon markets, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Deputy Minister Jung also requested Singapore’s active support and attention for Korean companies operating in Singapore in sectors such as infrastructure and finance.

Both sides expressed expectations that various commemorative projects promoted in both countries to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year will contribute to enhancing exchanges and friendship between their peoples, and agreed to closely cooperate between their governments for successful implementation.