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US, Japan, S. Korea vow to boost ties amid rising security risks

The officials of three nations stated this when they gathered in Tokyo on Thursday…reports Asian Lite News

Top defence officials from Japan, US and South Korea vowed to boost countries’ trilateral relations and cooperation and achieve peace amid rising security risks from China and North Korea, Nikkei Asia reported.

The officials of three nations stated this when they gathered in Tokyo on Thursday.

Reportedly, the head of Japan’s Defence Ministry Joint Staff, General Yoshihide Yoshida, along with his US counterpart General Charles Brown and South Korean counterpart Admiral Kim Myung Soo, held a defence meeting in Tokyo.

This was the first time Japan was hosting such a meeting of top defence personnel.

In the meeting, the officers agreed to “continue to strengthen trilateral security cooperation to advance peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond,” Nikkei Asia reported, quoting a joint statement released after the trilateral meeting.

The countries have jointly urged North Korea to “cease all destabilising activities immediately”.

While condemning the country’s strengthening relations with Russia, the trio also demanded that North Korea also put a halt to its nuclear programme.

Referring to China’s expansionist and aggressive claims in the Indo-Pacific region and the South China Sea, the three countries opposed all attempts to change the status quo by force.

Prior to this, the chiefs of South Korea and Japan had met a day before to hold similar talks for the first time in nine years.

These top officials will meet again in South Korea next year, Nikkei Asia reported.

Earlier this month, Head of the British government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Felicity Oswald stressed that China and North Korea are among the world’s most worrisome countries in terms of cybersecurity threats, adding that the evolving Chinese threat should be a cause for worry for everybody, reported Nikkei Asia.

China and North Korea are among the world’s most worrisome countries in terms of cybersecurity threats, but that is not the full extent of the risks, the head of the British government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said in an interview with the Tokyo-headquartered publication.

Responding to what according to her is an assessment of China’s cyber capabilities and potential risks, she said that they are extremely focused on the cyber threats. (ANI)

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S. Korea Stages Air Drills Near N. Korea

Seoul :The F35-A radar-evading fighters of the South Korean and U.S. air forces make a joint sortie during an allied air drill that ran from July 11 to July 14, in this undated photo released by the South Korean Air Force..(Photo:Yonhap/IANS)

About 20 fighter jets, including F-35A stealth fighters, drilled near the inter-Korean border…reports Asian Lite news

South Korea’s military on Monday staged an air exercise near the border with North Korea in response to the latter’s planned launch of what it claims to be a military spy satellite.

Around 20 fighter jets, including F-35A stealth fighters, conducted the drills in a central region south of a no-fly-zone near the inter-Korean border, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, hours after North Korea notified Japan of its plan to launch a space rocket carrying a satellite between Monday and midnight of June 3, Yonhap news agency reported.

“This strike package exercise was conducted to demonstrate the resolve and capabilities to punish immediately, strongly, and until the end, if the enemy undertakes a provocation,” the JCS said.

North Korea’s notice came before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Monday.

Yoon and Kishida have called on North Korea to cease its launch plan.

According to Kyodo News, North Korea designated three areas where debris will fall — two west of the Korean Peninsula and the other east of the Philippines’ island of Luzon.

Pyongyang has made public a plan to launch three more satellites this year following its first military reconnaissance satellite launch in November.

The launch plan comes despite international criticism that any launch using ballistic missile technology violates UN Security Council resolutions.

“North Korea’s purported military spy satellite launch is a provocative act that breaches the UN Security Council resolutions, and our military will implement measures that demonstrate our powerful capability and determination,” JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a press statement.

Last week, the South Korean military said it had detected apparent signs of Pyongyang preparing for a military spy satellite launch at a launch site on its west coast.

Observers said that North Korea appears intent on securing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets as it is far behind the allies in ISR capabilities despite its focus on developing an array of formidable weapons systems, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles and tactical nuclear arms.

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S. Korea and US Gear Up For Major Military Drills

The upcoming drills, named Freedom Shield, encompass a blend of computer-simulated command post training and various field exercises, scheduled from March 4 to 14….reports Asian Lite News

South Korean and U.S. forces are gearing up for their annual military drills, slated to begin next week, in response to North Korea’s persistent nuclear threats. The joint exercises, a routine affair for the allies, are expected to provoke ire from Pyongyang, which views them as rehearsals for invasion.

In recent months, North Korea has intensified tensions with aggressive rhetoric and ongoing missile tests, heightening concerns across the Korean Peninsula. While a full-scale attack is deemed unlikely, experts warn of potential limited provocations along the tense border with South Korea.

The upcoming drills, named Freedom Shield, encompass a blend of computer-simulated command post training and various field exercises, scheduled from March 4 to 14. According to Col Lee Sung-Jun, a spokesperson for South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, the exercises aim to enhance joint capabilities to deter North Korea from nuclear aggression. This year’s drills will notably include air assault, live-fire, and bombing training, with 48 field exercises planned—twice the number held last year.

Both South Korean and U.S. military officials assert the defensive nature of the exercises, emphasizing their role in maintaining deterrence. Col Isaac L Taylor, representing the U.S. military, highlights the importance of readiness in deterring potential aggression.

Despite the announcement, North Korea has yet to respond. However, history suggests Pyongyang may respond with its own missile tests, a pattern seen in reaction to previous South Korea-U.S. military exercises.

North Korea’s accelerated weapons testing, including multiple missile launches this year, underscores its ongoing efforts to bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities. South Korea’s military spokesperson, Mr. Lee, notes that the upcoming drills will include training to detect and intercept North Korean cruise missiles, further underscoring the region’s precarious security landscape.

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S. Korea, US, Japan Meet on N. Korea’s Cyber Threats

During Thursday’s meeting, the three sides discussed ways to counter North Korea’s cryptocurrency theft, and other illegal cyber activities aimed at financing its nuclear and missile development programs…reports Asian Lite News

South Korea, the US and Japan held their first trilateral working-level talks on Thursday on ways to boost cooperation against North Korea’s growing cyber threats, in a follow-up to the summit among their leaders in August, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The talks in Tokyo were led by Lee Jun-il, the Ministry’s director-general for North Korean nuclear affairs, US Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Jung Pak and Ishizuki Hideo, Japan’s ambassador in charge of cyber policy.

The dialogue was launched as part of a follow-up to an agreement reached among President Yoon Suk Yeol, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their Camp David summit to beef up tripartite cooperation in security and establish a working group tasked with combating North Korea’s cyber threats, Yonhap news agency reported.

During Thursday’s meeting, the three sides discussed ways to counter North Korea’s cryptocurrency theft, and other illegal cyber activities aimed at financing its nuclear and missile development programs.

They also agreed to boost cooperation with the international community and the private sector to block illegal North Korean workers in the IT sector, the Ministry said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, South Korea is pushing to host a trilateral summit with the US and Japan next year, a senior presidential official said on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden was the host of the first standalone trilateral summit involving South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David in August, Yonhap news agency reported.

Speaking to reporters at the presidential office, the senior official noted the three leaders agreed at the time to try to meet around once a year on whatever occasion.

“We are sounding out their thoughts with the aim of inviting the leaders of Japan and the US to South Korea for a South Korea-US-Japan summit,” the official said.

The three countries have been looking to strengthen their bilateral and trilateral partnerships in the face of growing regional and global challenges, including North Korea’s nuclear programme and China’s rising assertiveness.

On Friday and Saturday, the three countries’ national security advisers will meet in Seoul to discuss follow-up measures to agreements produced at the Camp David summit and other meetings between their leaders.

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US, S. Korea Concerned Over Growing Russia-N. Korea Military Ties

Blinken expressed worries about any assistance provided to North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, nuclear technology, and space launch capabilities….reports Asian Lite News

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced shared concerns with South Korea regarding the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, citing a mutual exchange involving the transfer of arms and technical support.

During discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, they addressed an extended deterrence strategy to counter North Korean threats, emphasizing the utilization of U.S. military assets, including nuclear forces, for defence against potential attacks, as well as enhancing collaboration with Japan.

Blinken expressed worries about any assistance provided to North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, nuclear technology, and space launch capabilities. He emphasised ongoing efforts to pinpoint, expose, and if necessary, counter these activities.

Speaking at a press conference in South Korea, Blinken highlighted the significance of identifying and addressing support that contributes to North Korea’s technological advancements.

Blinken will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow to participate in the 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Blinken along with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will co-chair the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Indian counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh.

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S. Korean Firms Eyeing UAE Expansion in Oil & Gas Sector

Kevin Kyedong Oh

Kyle Moon, Deputy General Manager of Daeha company for high-pressure technology, said that the UAE is an attractive destination for investments in the oil and gas sector…reports Asian Lite News

Top executives from South Korean companies have affirmed that numerous firms are actively looking to expand and inject new investments into the UAE’s oil and gas sector, noting that the UAE is attracting capital seeking unprecedented growth and prosperity opportunities worldwide.

In statements to Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the second day of ADIPEC 2023, the officials emphasised that the UAE has made significant strides in energy transformation in recent years and continues its relentless efforts to address the consequences of climate change.

Kyle Moon, Deputy General Manager of Daeha company for high-pressure technology, said that the UAE is an attractive destination for investments in the oil and gas sector, highlighting that ADIPEC is one of the most significant events globally.

Kyle Moon

He further emphasised that ADIPEC enhances collaboration opportunities among policymakers, decision-makers, energy industry leaders, businesses, and innovators worldwide to support the development of a sustainable, secure, and cost-effective energy system.

Kevin Kyedong Oh, CEO of Oil Zero Separator, noted that his company is participating in ADIPEC for the second consecutive year and is exploring further expansion and presence in the UAE, given its status as a critical market in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Kyle Moon

Shafqat Zaheer, Managing Director of Petro Gulf Oilfield Equipment Trading affiliated with unilok company, emphasised that ADIPEC is a global platform for exchanging ideas and discussing the latest global challenges impacting energy markets. He stated that the UAE is an ideal destination for international companies looking to enhance their growth prospects through cross-sector partnerships and deals.

Wamseing Ko, Deputy General Manager of Senko, said that ADIPEC is a vital platform for Korean companies to identify new investment opportunities, enabling them to expand and grow. He affirmed that the UAE is one of the best countries providing investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector, particularly as a prime market attracting international investments.

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Australia, S. Korea G20’s Top Coal Power Polluters

Coal power plant. (Credit Pixabay.com)

Australia and South Korea each emit over three times the global average and more than twice the G20 average, surpassing even China, the US, and Japan….reports Asian Lite News

Australia and South Korea stood out as the top two coal power polluters per capita among the G20 in 2022, an unchanged status since 2020, a new analysis by global energy think tank Ember said on Tuesday.

Australia and South Korea each emit over three times the global average and more than twice the G20 average, surpassing even China, the US, and Japan.

This is despite declines in per capita coal power emissions across more than half of the G20 economies.

In 2022, 36 per cent of global electricity was powered by coal which emitted 8.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (tCO2), equivalent to 1.1 tonnes of CO2 emitted by every person worldwide.

Growing wind and solar are helping to reduce coal power emissions per capita in many G20 countries.

Britain saw the most significant decline in coal power emissions per capita in the last seven years, dropping by 93 per cent and bringing it far below the global average, followed by France (minus 63 per cent), Italy (minus 50 per cent), and Brazil (minus 42 per cent).

The top two polluters, Australia and South Korea, also had their per capita coal emissions fall by 26 per cent and 10 per cent respectively since 2015 as a result of growing clean power generation. But it’s not yet enough to push them down the ranks and close to the global average.

Continued reliance on coal power led Australia to emit more than 4 tCO2 per individual and South Korea over 3 tCO2 per individual in 2022. This is approximately three times the global average of 1.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

However, mature economies like Australia and South Korea should be targeting a coal power phase-out by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Other coal-dependent G20 countries also experienced notable rises in per capita emissions in the past seven years, including Indonesia (plus 56 per cent), Türkiye (plus 41 per cent), China (plus 30 per cent) and India (plus 29 per cent), as a result of rapidly growing demand outpacing the growth in clean generation.

Overall, G20 per capita emissions have shown minimal changes since 2015. Ember’s Global Insights Lead, Dave Jones, said: “China and India are often blamed as the world’s big coal power polluters. But when you take population into account, South Korea and Australia were the worst polluters still in 2022.

“As mature economies, they should be scaling up renewable electricity ambitiously and confidently enough to enable coal to be phased out by 2030.”

Polly Hemming, Director of the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program, said: “Australia is a world champion for all the wrong reasons. We’re not only the world’s third largest fossil fuel exporter, we’re first in the world when it comes to coal emissions per capita, and are becoming increasingly isolated globally in our reliance on coal.

“Even as Australia’s latest emissions data shows just how much work there is to do to meet our climate targets, the conversation is not about a rapid transition away from coal-fired power, it’s about how to delay the closure of our coal power stations further.”

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UAE, S. Korea step up economic ties

Both the sides have reached an agreement to enhance and broaden economic collaboration, encouraging mutual investments across 11 strategic sectors during the next stage…reports Asian Lite News

The eighth session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee (JEC) – which was chaired by H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and H.E. Kyungho CHOO, South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance – was held recently in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The session was attended by various government officials, investors, and business representatives from both countries.

Both the sides have reached an agreement to enhance and broaden economic collaboration, encouraging mutual investments across 11 strategic sectors during the next stage. The primary objective of this agreement is to accomplish the development agenda of both the countries and facilitate their transition towards a more adaptable and competitive economic model, focusing on the sectors of the new economy.

H.E. bin Touq emphasized the profound and robust ties between the UAE and the Republic of Korea, underscoring their progress towards broader levels of constructive cooperation across all levels, with the backing and guidance of the leaderships of both friendly nations. This collaboration aims to fulfil their objectives of sustainable development.

“We are proud of our strategic relationship with South Korea, spanning about 42 years. This relationship has been built upon friendship, mutual respect, and concerted efforts at both governmental and private sector levels. Undoubtedly, economic cooperation is the cornerstone of this strategic partnership, which has manifested through numerous collaborative endeavours in crucial sectors such as renewable energy, intellectual property, healthcare, technology, and agricultural technology. These projects have strengthened economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and moved it to higher levels,” H.E. said.

H.E. also conveyed his hopes that the current session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee would foster increased cooperation and pave the way for new avenues of investment in the sectors of the new economy. H.E. bin Touq further expressed his optimism that this session would facilitate greater access for companies, particularly SMEs, to the emerging market opportunities, ultimately leading to mutual benefits for both nations.

H.E. highlighted the UAE economy’s regional and global standing, emphasizing the country’s dynamic investment environment and the benefits and incentives it provides to investors. Furthermore, H.E. bin Touq urged the South Korean business community to leverage these advantages to foster the expansion and prosperity of their commercial ventures across various sectors in both the UAE and the wider region.

H.E. Kyungho CHOO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance pointed to the depth and strength of relations between South Korea and the UAE. H.E. asserted the importance of strengthening economic and trade relations in new economic sectors during the next phase, which will support the future sustainable economic development of the two friendly nations.

Furthermore, during the eighth session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee, the two parties reviewed the advancements made in the implementation of the resolutions reached during the seventh session of the Committee, which took place in September 2020. They focused on the agreements derived from the session, particularly in sectors such as energy, investment, trade, climate change, agriculture, water resources, emerging industries, smart infrastructure, healthcare, and intellectual property.

Recognizing the significance of the summit held in January 2023 in Abu Dhabi, which brought together His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of South Korea, the two countries emphasized the enhancement of their strategic partnership. They highlighted the importance of leveraging the achievements of this summit by reinforcing collaboration through the Joint Economic Committee.

The UAE and South Korea both agreed to expand and diversify bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors and vital industries, enhance mutual investments, and explore further promising opportunities in the new economy sectors, including: 

    Green Economy and Clean Energy:

The leaders reiterated their commitment to enhancing cooperation across the green economy and clean energy sectors, through the implementation of the agreements previously signed, during the Presidents’ summit held in January 2023. These include storage and management of oil, electing relevant strategic action groups to drive decarbonization, creating clean hydrogen supply chain, and developing relevant mutual technologies.

SMEs

In an effort to support startups, the two countries asserted the need to provide all financial support mechanisms and enablers required for the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This objective is to be achieved through recent agreements signed between the two parties, which aim to foster the growth of domestic entrepreneurship and facilitate startups’ access to market opportunities.

Nuclear Energy

The leaders expressed their commitment to advancing cooperation efforts in this vital sector and building on existing achievements, by successfully completing the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (BNEP). This plant plays a vital role in generating electricity and providing clean energy to support the UAE’s development.

Economy and Investment

The leaders praised the UAE’s commitment to invest USD 30 billion in South Korea over the coming years. They also reached an agreement to establish efficient mechanisms aligned with mutual government projects and harness the potential of the ambitious investment plan.

Healthcare and medical services

In this regard, the two Presidents emphasized the importance of enhancing mutual cooperation in this vital sector and exchanging expertise and experience.

Water Resources and Smart farming

The leaders recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in water resources management and smart farming to promote sustainable agriculture, in response to implications of climate change. They both agreed to collaborate in the smart farming industry by exchanging techniques and increasing investments across this sector.

New Industries and Smart Infrastructure

Both countries highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation and expanding investment across emerging industries, in support of the transition towards an innovative new economy to further economic development. To this end, the leaders agreed to expand investment cooperation in promising new sectors, notably digital transformation, smart mobility, smart infrastructure, and other relevant industries.

Technology and Communications

The leaders expressed their desire to promote mutual cooperation to increase trade in the ICT sector. They emphasized the significance of organizing reciprocal tradeshows, exchanging information and expertise, and facilitating market access for technology companies. Their aim is to foster joint synergy and promote growth in the ICT industry.

Space

The two sides agreed to further promote space cooperation through knowledge and expertise sharing, and to develop more mutual cooperation opportunities across this vital sector.

Tourism

The leaders underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector and agreed to work towards driving tourism exchange by supporting industry-related startups in both countries. The two sides also decided to implement various mutual projects to extend the results of “K-Travel Week in the UAE” held in May 2023. Furthermore, they discussed mechanisms to augment the number of flights between the two countries in the upcoming phase.

Intellectual Property

The leaders expressed their desire to expand bilateral cooperation in intellectual property (IP) and agreed to pursue mutual cooperation activities through knowledge and expertise sharing across all IP sectors.

The UAE is South Korea’s second-largest trade partner in the GCC and the Arab regions as of 2022. The UAE-Korean non-oil foreign trade recorded USD 5.3 billion by the end of 2022, a growth of over 14 per cent compared to 2021. During the first two months of 2023, trade exchanges more than USD 917 million. In addition, UAE exports to Korean markets witnessed a growth of 35 per cent (January – February 2023) compared to the same period last year.

In terms of investment, as of early 2021, Korea’s investment balance in the UAE reached about USD 2.2 billion across the sectors of finance, insurance, mining, energy, technology, and real estate. UAE investments in South Korea are mainly found in real estate, telecommunications, energy, logistics, and others. UAE investments in Korea are expected to see a qualitative shift after the country announced its plan to invest USD 30 billion over the next phase in sectors related to renewable energy, advanced technology, and other sectors of the new economy.

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US’ nuclear submarine arrives in S. Korea after North’s launch

The Ohio-class nuclear-powered guided missile submarine USS Michigan arrives at a key naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 16, 2023.(Yonhap/IANS)

It marks the first time the US has sent an SSGN to South Korea since October 2017….reports Asian Lite News

In a show of force, over two thousand South Korean and US troops participated in joint live-fire exercises, after North Korea’s failed attempt last month to launch a spy satellite and launch of two ballistic missiles escalated tensions in the region.

The exercises are also being held to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the countries and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the South Korean military, media reported.

Meanwhile, a US nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in six years.

The Ohio-class SSGN, USS Michigan, entered a key naval base in Busan, 320 km southeast of Seoul, after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday in apparent protest against the massive live-fire drills that ended earlier in the day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

It marks the first time the US has sent an SSGN to South Korea since October 2017.

The submarine is scheduled to remain in the country until June 21, a South Korean defence official told reportersy.

The arrival of the submarine also came after the US pledged to further enhance the “regular visibility” of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula through the Washington Declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and his American counterpart Joe Biden during their summit in April.

“The US SSGN’s visit to South Korea is intended to substantively implement the agreement in the Washington Declaration made in April to enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula,” ROK Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo was quoted as saying. ROK stands for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

“(It) demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-US alliance to realise ‘peace through strength’.”

During the submarine’s visit to the country, the South Korean and US navies plan to conduct combined special operations drills to strengthen their inter-operability and capabilities in such operations as responding to advancing North Korean threats, according to the Defence Ministry.

Commissioned in 1982 as a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the USS Michigan was converted into an SSGN in 2007. The submarine is able to conduct strike missions using Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The 18,000-tonne SSGN is 170 meters long and can be armed with over 150 Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km,.

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UAE, S. Korea hold first bilateral strategic dialogue

During the strategic dialogue, Sheikh Abdullah emphasised that the two countries are bound by deep-rooted and exceptional developmental relations…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Park Jin, Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea, co-chaired the first bilateral strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of the UAE and Republic of Korea, which took place in Seoul.

The dialogue is one of the outcomes of the official visit of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Republic of Korea in 2019, during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the bilateral strategic dialogue between the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea was signed.

During the strategic dialogue, Sheikh Abdullah emphasised that the two countries are bound by deep-rooted and exceptional developmental relations, which resulted in many significant achievements.

He also noted that their relations, which began more than 40 years ago, have witnessed several stages of growth, development, effective collaboration and beneficial actions. The signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the two countries in 2018 created a strong impetus and achieved progress in the trajectory of their relations, opening broader horizons for overall cooperation.

Sheikh Abdullah congratulated Foreign Minister Park on Korea’s election as a member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, which is the third time it was elected to join the council after it previously held a non-permanent seat and served in 1996-1997 and 2013-2014.

He also commended Korea’s efforts to safeguard international peace and security.

He then expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Park for the warm reception he received, as well as his hope that the strategic dialogue between the two countries would serve as a platform for deepening their strategic cooperation and overall partnership.

During the strategic dialogue, the two sides discussed the solid friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as opportunities for enhancing their bilateral cooperation in various areas, including the economy, trade, investment, culture, education, energy, climate, scientific research, healthcare and advanced technology.

It also tackled the common priorities of the two countries in the UN Security Council, their bilateral cooperation within international organisations, and ways of supporting multilateral efforts to solve various international issues and challenges.

The dialogue also reviewed the joint cooperation between the two countries in combatting climate change, primarily as they have successfully implemented several strategic and vital projects in the clean energy and peaceful nuclear energy sectors.

The UAE is preparing to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November at Expo City Dubai.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that he is anticipating Republic of Korea’s participation in COP28, stating that the cooperation between the two friendly countries in this area and in adopting clean and renewable energy solutions are a model to be followed.

The strategic dialogue was attended by Saeed Al Hajri, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Advanced Science and Technology, Dr. Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Health, and Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Republic of Korea.

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