TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – south korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, would be on a working visit to London, New York and Canada next week. This is his first trip to these countries as number one in South Korea.

In London, Yoon will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Meanwhile in New York, Yoon is due to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

National Security Advisor South Korea, Kim Sung Han, said President Yoon is expected to begin his state visit on September 18. His first destination was England to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last Thursday at the age of 96.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Reuters

President Yoon’s decision to attend the Queen’s funeral on September 19, 2022 can be called historically significant in bilateral relations between South Korea and the UK. Kim said that in 1999 Queen Elizabeth II visited South Korea and since then the Queen has shown her affection for South Korea.

From England, Yoon will then travel to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He is due to deliver a speech on September 20, 2022.

Yoon’s speech at the United Nations aimed to highlight South Korea’s role as a world-leading country that helps solve international problems and build a world order based on universal values. In his speech, President Yoon will also push for the denuclearization of North Korea, while seeking to arrange bilateral meetings with key countries, such as the United States and Japan.

Capping off his series of overseas visits, Yoon will travel to Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Canada. President Yoon’s long overseas trip will end on September 24.

“The purpose of this trip is to strengthen solidarity with partner countries that share fundamental values, as well as to broaden the bases of economic diplomacy,” Kim said.

Earlier last week, Yoon’s government offered to hold talks with North Korea to discuss reuniting families separated by the Korean War, which broke out between 1950 and 1953. Relations between the two countries are always tense.

This year, Pyongyang has carried out an unprecedented number of missile tests. North Korea’s latest missile test took place late last month. By contrast, Seoul officials said they had also completed preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.

Yoon also said he had a “bold” plan to provide economic aid in exchange for South Korea’s nuclear disarmament. But he promised not to remain silent if there was a provocation.

REUTERS | NESA AQILA

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