(News Focus) Yoon boosts S. Korea-Britain ties, makes final push for Busan Expo

▲ South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and King Charles III riding in a horse-drawn carriage arrive at Buckingham Palace after attending a welcome ceremony for the South Korean leader at Horse Guards Parade in London on Nov. 21, 2023, during his state visit to Britain to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations. (Yonhap)

▲ South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sign the "Downing Street Accord" following their talks at 10 Downing Street in London on Nov. 22, 2023. The accord calls for raising the two countries' security and economic ties to the highest level as they vowed to jointly confront North Korea's nuclear threat, strengthen supply chains and ensure a sustainable future. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

▲ South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron prior to their breakfast and summit meeting at Elysee Palace in Paris on Nov. 24, 2023. Yoon arrived in Paris the previous day to make a final pitch for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, ahead of a vote by 182 member nations of the Bureau International des Expositions to select the host city, set for Nov. 28. (Yonhap)

(News Focus) Yoon-Britain-France

(News Focus) Yoon boosts S. Korea-Britain ties, makes final push for Busan Expo

By Lee Haye-ah

PARIS, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up a six-day trip to Europe on Saturday after opening a new chapter in South Korea-Britain relations with the signing of an accord on the elevation of security and economic ties, and gathering diplomats in France to deliver a final push to bring the 2030 World Expo to Busan.

Yoon's four-day state visit to Britain came on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations and kicked off with a ceremonial welcome featuring a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and a state banquet hosted by King Charles III.

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee were Britain's first state guests since the King's coronation in May, which showed the special importance Britain placed on its relationship with South Korea, according to the presidential office.

In an English speech before the British parliament, Yoon presented a vision for future cooperation in security, trade and digital technologies.

Following a summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he signed a new agreement -- dubbed the "Downing Street Accord" -- outlining 45 tasks the two countries will undertake to elevate their security and economic ties to the highest level.

The accord called for upgrading the bilateral relationship to a "global strategic partnership" from a "broad and creative partnership," which was established in 2013.

As part of the deal, the two countries agreed to establish a "two plus two" foreign and defense ministerial meeting to better address regional and global challenges, work to sign a memorandum of understanding on developing a comprehensive institutional framework for deeper defense cooperation, and increase interoperability between their armed forces through further bilateral exercises.

The accord also called for conducting joint patrols to enforce international sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and establishing a Strategic Cyber Partnership to better counter and deter cyber threats.

The threat of North Korea's nuclear program loomed large over the state visit as Pyongyang launched what it claimed was a military spy satellite into space.

The launch forced Yoon to adjust his schedule to lead a National Security Council meeting from London, which was followed by the South Korean government's announcement of the resumption of reconnaissance and surveillance activities around the inter-Korean border, and the partial suspension of a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction accord.

South Korea and Britain also agreed to deepen collaboration on the responsible military use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, and to launch negotiations to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement that took effect in 2021.

The presidential office said the benefits of AI and digital cooperation will be felt in the security sector as well.

"If AI and digital technology are converted into quantum-based military technology, it will be possible to thwart the enemy's missile launches, cause malfunctions in the propulsion and separation process of missile warheads, or affect their trajectory, neutralizing the strike at the target point," Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters in London.

From London, Yoon headed to Paris to make a final pitch for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern city of Busan.

Yoon met with the diplomatic corps in Paris and delegates from member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the body in charge of overseeing the World Expo, over dinner, lunch and an evening reception, to make a last-minute appeal for support ahead of next Tuesday's vote.

Busan is competing against Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy, and the winner will be decided by a vote among 182 BIE member states during a general assembly in Paris.

This was Yoon's second trip to Paris since taking office.

In June, the president traveled to the French capital to attend a BIE general assembly and deliver a presentation on how South Korea plans to make the World Expo a platform for solutions to humanity's challenges, such as war and conflict, the digital divide, and climate change.

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