South Korea‘s purpose to turn out to be a global pivotal state (GPS) will assist countries within the Indo-Pacific region handle crises, based on the nation’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Choi Youngsam, who spoke to media in Seoul.
Choi addressed the World Journalist Conference, hosted by the Journalist Association of Korea from April 24-29. Around 50 international journalists, including 5 from Southeast Asia – Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and Malaysia – had been invited to the occasion.
His speech highlighted South Korea’s ambition to become a GPS by implementing the nation’s Indo-Pacific strategy, to expand international engagement.
Choi explained that South Korea’s GPS aspirations are based on freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of regulation.
He mentioned that the Indo-Pacific strategy was launched in December last year by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, including that it not solely helps South Korea’s pursuits but in addition benefits the region.
Part of the strategy’s framework emphasizes working collaboratively with different countries to make sure peace within the Indo-Pacific, Choi said.
“I believe all of us here can agree on a minimal of two things.
“First, we are living in a world of ‘polycrisis’ – the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, global technological competition, provide chain disruption, and recently the Ukraine warfare. I suppose we’re profoundly conscious of it.
“Of course, North Korea’s proliferation of nuclear actions stays a direct threat to the area and beyond. Second, we’re all aware we’ve to resolve these challenges collectively as a result of we are interconnected.
“In this context, Korea is looking for to have its personal vision of a global pivotal state, or GPS. If you have Korea as your good friend, you don’t want to fret about where to go in the future.”
Choi said there are three rules inside the Indo-Pacific technique: inclusiveness, trust, and reciprocity.
Under Bona fide , there are nine core ideas.
He listed them as establishing an Indo-Pacific regional order based on rules and shared norms, selling the rule of law and human rights, strengthening non-proliferation and counterterrorism efforts, and enhancing complete safety cooperation.
These initiatives would additionally embrace the enlargement of economic security networks, selling cooperation in science and know-how, and contributing to narrowing the digital divide, as nicely as main regional cooperation on climate change and vitality security.
Moreover, they embody selling tailored growth cooperation partnerships and facilitating mutual understanding and exchanges. Choi said…
“We will neither target nor exclude any particular nation. We will work with any associate that shares our imaginative and prescient underneath the precept of cooperation. Our partnership might be imprinted with deep mutual trust.
“Trust is an integral part of our imaginative and prescient that addresses regional and world challenges collectively. And we will search mutually useful cooperation for a affluent Indo-Pacific region.
“South Korea has strived to take care of strong relations with varied regions, including ASEAN.
“Within this technique, Korea will work beyond the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia. For example, we’ll work intently with countries, and different regions, including ASEAN by way of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, or KAS for short.”
Choi stated President Yoon informed the ASEAN-Korea Summit held in Phnom Penh last November that South Korea would goal to improve and elevate its partnership with ASEAN.
As part of this, South Korea would help strengthen political-security cooperation in addition to current economic, social, and cultural cooperation initiatives.
He additionally mentioned that these initiatives would reinforce ASEAN as a vital companion for regional peace and common prosperity.
Before KAS, South Korea and ASEAN have been working under the “2021-2025 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Plan of Action to implement the Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership.” Such a partnership, he mentioned, has been deepening and enhancing strategic partnerships and pleasant relations.
Choi mentioned its goal is to foster mutually beneficial, meaningful, and sensible cooperation between South Korea and the area in areas such as politics, economics, socio-cultural areas, and sustainable growth.
Choi additional emphasized that South Korea helps ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
He noted that South Korea has been a key supporter of democracy and human rights, such as by co-hosting the latest Democracy Summit with the United States and its ongoing backing of humanitarian efforts, including offering aid for these affected by the Russia-Ukraine struggle and the earthquake in Turkey.
South Korea has also co-sponsored a UN resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights violations and launched the primary human rights report on the North final 12 months.
Additionally, Choi stated that South Korea would assist the Third Summit of Democracy next 12 months by taking half in a number one position in promoting democracy all over the world.
In this regard, he urged assist for South Korea’s election as a UN Security Council Member for 2024-2025..