Kuala lumpur: First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo has concluded his three-day visit to Malaysia, where he participated in multilateral meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The gatherings featured trilateral discussions with the United States and Japan and emphasized the importance of dialogue with North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park's visit underlined South Korea's commitment to ASEAN diplomacy, aligning with the new government under President Lee Jae Myung. The meetings also highlighted resilience following the political unrest caused by the attempted martial law by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Despite the absence of a newly appointed top diplomat in South Korea, Park engaged in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, showcasing the commitment to trilateral cooperation.
Park's participation underscored the intent to fortify South Korea's diplomatic relations following the leadership change in Seoul. This meeting also served as a platform for compensating the postponed bilateral talks between South Korea and the U.S., initially scheduled before the Malaysia summit.
In the discussions, the three nations reiterated their commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization and agreed on maintaining strong deterrence through trilateral coordination. Park articulated South Korea's efforts to alleviate inter-Korean tensions, advocating for U.S. and Japan's cooperation in resuming dialogue with North Korea.
A senior foreign ministry official mentioned that both the U.S. and Japan seemed to align with South Korea's stance on engaging Pyongyang in dialogue. President Lee's administration emphasizes renewing talks with North Korea, differing from the previous administration's hard-line stance.
Throughout the ASEAN meetings, Park emphasized easing tensions and reiterated this focus at the ASEAN Regional Forum. He stated the government's intention to make significant strides toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and called for collective efforts to address North Korea's nuclear challenges at the East Asia Summit.
With ASEAN, Park confirmed South Korea's commitment to enhancing ties with the regional bloc, cementing plans of action for 2026-30 as part of their strategic partnership. These plans aim to expand cooperation in tackling global challenges and embracing technological advancements.
Notably, North Korea did not attend the forum, marking its first absence in 25 years, likely influenced by its severed diplomatic relations with Malaysia. Park's interactions at the meetings included a brief encounter with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussions with Rubio, though no engagement with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was noted.
Park also engaged with the five Mekong nations and held bilateral talks with diplomats from Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, further solidifying diplomatic ties within the region.