Seoul: The European Union's ambassador to South Korea has called for stronger cooperation between South Korea and the EU on security and broader economic issues amid mounting geopolitical challenges, while expressing confidence that consultations over the EU's new steel tariff scheme will produce a mutually acceptable outcome. According to Yonhap News Agency, in an interview on Friday, Ugo Astuto warned that deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia could heighten proliferation risks on the Korean Peninsula and called for continued efforts toward the North's denuclearization. Astuto emphasized the intensive dialogue over the EU's planned new steel tariffs and anticipated a productive outcome respecting both sides' concerns. The EU plans to tighten its steel safeguard measures starting July 1 to address global overcapacity. Under the revised system, tariff-free import quotas for a range of steel products will be reduced, with imports exceeding the quotas facing a higher tariff rate of 50 percen t. During a summit in Brussels earlier this month, President Lee Jae Myung requested that the EU consider the impact on South Korean steelmakers, despite the bilateral Korea-EU free trade agreement. Astuto rejected criticism labeling the measures as protectionism, highlighting that the EU remains one of the world's most open markets, with 70 percent of goods entering with little or no tariffs. He noted South Korea's trade surplus in goods with the EU over recent years. Astuto also expressed concern over the evolving military relationship between Russia and North Korea, noting Pyongyang's support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine through troops and ammunition supplies. He stressed the importance of continuing efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula and condemning violations of U.N. resolutions, advocating for complete, irreversible, and verifiable denuclearization. Following the summit, South Korea and the EU issued a joint statement condemning military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, whic h they deemed illegal and supportive of Moscow's war efforts. The leaders expressed grave concerns over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, asserting that North Korea will never be recognized as a nuclear-weapons state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Astuto emphasized the interconnected security concerns between the Indo-Pacific and Europe, citing the Russia-North Korea nexus as a risk for all. He called for broader cooperation between South Korea and the EU, addressing military threats, economic security, and supply chain disruptions. South Korea and the EU agreed to launch negotiations on a bilateral information security pact, expected to facilitate the safe exchange of sensitive information and support cooperation in defense, industry, and research. The agreement aims to develop tools for a more comprehensive discussion on security and defense issues. Astuto highlighted the green and digital transition, research cooperation, and artificial intelligence as key areas for future c ollaboration, stating that the strategic partnership between Korea and the EU is poised for further and rapid development, marking the summit as a significant milestone.