Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized the importance of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, asserting that it remains an "imperative" that should never be abandoned. Speaking at the Seoul Diplomacy Forum 2025, hosted by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Cho highlighted the need to prevent the peninsula from becoming a flashpoint of armed conflict. According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's keynote speech was delivered by Youn Jong-kwon, ambassador for international cyber affairs, as the minister is currently on an overseas trip. Cho stated that Korea's top security priority is to avoid war and ensure stability on the peninsula, describing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula as an objective that must be steadfastly pursued. The minister outlined the government's phased approach to denuclearization, which involves initially halting North Korea's nuclear activities, followed by reducing and eventually dismantling their nuclear arsenal. Cho emphasized the importance of strengthening South Korea's defense capabi lities against North Korean threats, while also advocating for efforts to prevent unintended conflicts, reduce tensions, and restore dialogue with Pyongyang. Cho acknowledged the complex strategic environment South Korea faces, citing increased geopolitical and geoeconomic competition, as well as the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. He called for peaceful coexistence beyond the Korean Peninsula and advocated for trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as with China and Japan, to enhance regional stability. During a discussion session at the forum, Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima highlighted the significance of South Korea-Japan cooperation amidst declining multilateralism on the global stage. Mizushima suggested "minilateralism" as a viable option for deepening bilateral relations when traditional multilateral systems are less effective. Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing also participated in the session, underscoring that China seeks to i mprove the livelihoods of its 1.4 billion people without challenging other nations. However, Dai warned that if China's development is perceived as a threat, the country would defend its core interests and dignity. He also expressed a cautiously positive outlook on U.S.-China relations, stating that Beijing does not desire conflicts over tariffs, trade, or technology with Washington.