President Yoon attends NATO summit

President Yoon and President Biden met on July 11, 2024 to reaffirm the progress in ROK-US security cooperation on extended deterrence following the announcement of the ‘Washington Declaration’ in April 2023. Progress since the launch of the ROK-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) shows that the two countries are a truly global comprehensive strategic alliance, have a stronger mutual defense relationship than ever before, and share common interests in peace, stability, and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. NCG has focused on ensuring the continued safety and security of the Korean people and U.S. troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula in the face of North Korea's escalating nuclear threat, and has promoted joint ROK-U.S.

nuclear and strategic planning. The NCG enables joint planning and execution of Korean conventional support for U.S. nuclear operations in case of emergency and continuously improves joint training activities through regular road training and simulations. The two leaders emphasized that the ‘Joint Guidelines Document’ provides a solid foundation for strengthening ROK-U.S. integrated extended deterrence cooperation. This includes expansion of security procedures and information sharing, nuclear consultation procedures in times of crisis and emergency, nuclear and strategic planning, Korean conventional support for US nuclear operations in case of emergency through ROK-US nuclear and conventional integration, strategic messaging, exercise, simulation, and Training and investment risk reduction measures. 

Yoon delivers keynote speech at NATO Public Forum and attends IP4 summit

Yoon attended the ‘Indo-Pacific Partnership’ session at the NATO Public Forum and gave a keynote speech about strengthening cooperation between US and NATO for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, with about 300 academics from the United States and NATO member countries in attendance. The NATO Public Forum is an event where various stakeholders, including high-level government officials, experts, opinion leaders, academia, and the media attend to discuss and exchange NATO issues. Yoon said he would work together to protect peace based on Korea's three visions of freedom, peace, and prosperity and the Indo-Pacific strategy. He said he would work closely with allies and friendly countries to neutralize and block illegal military and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea, while continuing to provide comprehensive support for the end of the war in Ukraine and peace and reconstruction in Ukraine. 

President Yoon attends IP4 summit

Yoon attended the summit meeting of NATO Indo-Pacific Partners (IP4, Indo-Pacific Partners / Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand). This IP4 summit, hosted by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, was held for the third time following 2022 and 2023, and was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. The leaders of each country confirmed the close cooperation between the four countries that share values and their common awareness and will for solidarity on international security challenges. The leaders expressed grave concern over Russia and North Korea's decision to strengthen military and economic cooperation through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, and stated that Russia's support for strengthening North Korea's military capabilities violates numerous UN Security Council resolutions.

They agreed that the international community should act in solidarity to deal firmly with the illegal strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries. In a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held at the end of the summit, the leaders listened to President Zelenskyy's explanation of the recent situation in Ukraine, and Ukraine's efforts to restore peace, and discussed Ukraine's sovereignty. The IP4 countries' united support for territorial integrity was reaffirmed at the end. The leaders concluded that they would continue to strengthen communication and cooperation between the four countries for peace and stability in the region.