Seoul: Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire, hosted a symposium focused on charting security policy directions amid weakening alliances and growing challenges in economic security, such as supply chain disruptions. The annual Korean Peninsula Symposium was held at Lotte Hotel Seoul in central Seoul, co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Institute for National Security Strategy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this year's theme was "Global complex crises and the Korean Peninsula." In a keynote speech, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized a "practical" approach to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, advocating for a phased approach-halting and scaling down the North's nuclear program before denuclearizing.
In a congratulatory message, President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed the commitment to pursuing "pragmatic diplomacy" in response to complex global challenges. President Lee's speech, read by Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, highlighted the importance of investing in high-tech industries to secure new growth engines for the global market.
The forum saw participation from key figures such as National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. U.S. House Representatives Young Kim and Ami Bera participated virtually, emphasizing the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Kim urged closer cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan to build joint deterrence amid deepening ties involving North Korea, China, and Russia. Bera highlighted the alliance as crucial for East Asia's stability and the world's future.
Yonhap News Agency President and CEO Hwang Dae-il expressed hope that the forum would provide insights into the Korean Peninsula's future and assess the rapidly changing international order. "Yonhap News Agency will continue to provide accurate information, balanced perspectives, and in-depth analysis," Hwang stated.
Experts from the United States, Japan, and China participated in the forum's first session to examine shifting alliance dynamics and discuss major nations' responses to the evolving global security landscape. The second session featured discussions on growing uncertainties over economic and energy security and explored strategies for South Korea to navigate these challenges.
Since 2015, Yonhap has hosted the symposium annually with the unification ministry to bring together experts, politicians, and government officials to examine the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and explore solutions to emerging issues. The forum was livestreamed in both Korean and English.