South Korea‘s aim to become a worldwide pivotal state (GPS) will assist international locations within the Indo-Pacific area 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 five from Southeast Asia – Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and Malaysia – have been invited to the occasion.
All-inclusive to turn out to be a GPS by implementing the nation’s Indo-Pacific strategy, to increase global engagement.
Choi defined that South Korea’s GPS aspirations are primarily based on freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of legislation.
He mentioned that the Indo-Pacific strategy was launched in December final 12 months by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, adding that it not only helps South Korea’s pursuits but additionally advantages the region.
Part of the strategy’s framework emphasizes working collaboratively with different nations to ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific, Choi stated.
“I believe all of us right here can agree on a minimal of two issues.
“First, we live in a world of ‘polycrisis’ – the Covid-19 pandemic, local weather change, global technological competition, provide chain disruption, and lately the Ukraine struggle. I think we’re profoundly aware of it.
“Of course, North Korea’s proliferation of nuclear activities stays a direct risk to the area and beyond. Second, we are all conscious we’ve to solve these challenges together as a result of we are interconnected.
“In this context, Korea is looking for to have its own vision of a world pivotal state, or GPS. If you could have Korea as your good friend, you don’t need to fret about the place to go in the future.”
Choi stated there are three ideas throughout the Indo-Pacific strategy: inclusiveness, trust, and reciprocity.
Under these three principles, there are 9 core ideas.
He listed them as establishing an Indo-Pacific regional order primarily based on guidelines and shared norms, promoting the rule of legislation and human rights, strengthening non-proliferation and counterterrorism efforts, and enhancing comprehensive security cooperation.
These initiatives would additionally embody the enlargement of financial security networks, selling cooperation in science and expertise, and contributing to narrowing the digital divide, as well as main regional cooperation on local weather change and energy security.
Moreover, they include selling tailored improvement cooperation partnerships and facilitating mutual understanding and exchanges. Choi said…
“We will neither goal nor exclude any specific nation. We will work with any associate that shares our vision under the principle of cooperation. Our partnership will be imprinted with deep mutual belief.
“Trust is an integral a part of our imaginative and prescient that addresses regional and international challenges collectively. And we will seek mutually helpful cooperation for a affluent Indo-Pacific region.
“South Korea has strived to take care of robust relations with varied regions, including ASEAN.
“Within this technique, Korea will work past the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia. For example, we’ll work intently with nations, and different areas, including ASEAN via 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 aim to upgrade and elevate its partnership with ASEAN.
As a part of this, South Korea would help strengthen political-security cooperation in addition to present economic, social, and cultural cooperation initiatives.
He additionally talked about that these initiatives would reinforce ASEAN as a vital partner for regional peace and common prosperity.
Before KAS, South Korea and ASEAN have been working beneath 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 stated, has been deepening and enhancing strategic partnerships and pleasant relations.
Choi stated its goal is to foster mutually useful, significant, and practical cooperation between South Korea and the region in areas corresponding to 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 current Democracy Summit with the United States and its ongoing backing of humanitarian efforts, including offering help for these affected by the Russia-Ukraine struggle and the earthquake in Turkey.
South Korea has also co-sponsored a UN decision condemning North Korea’s human rights violations and launched the primary human rights report on the North last year.
Additionally, Choi mentioned that South Korea would assist the Third Summit of Democracy subsequent year by taking part in a number one function in promoting democracy around the globe.
In this regard, he urged help for South Korea’s election as a UN Security Council Member for 2024-2025..