- Emphasis on the resilience of Korea’s democracy

- Request for support for the ROK’s efforts to achieve substantive progress on peace on the Korean Peninsula and the North Korean nuclear issue

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo attended the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on the afternoon of July 11 (Friday) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and exchanged views on key regional and global security issues.

※ The ARF consists of 27 participating countries : the 10 ASEAN Member States, as well as the ROK, the DPRK, the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, the EU, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Pakistan.

Vice Minister Park first expressed appreciation for the trust and support shown by ARF members toward the strength and resilience of Korean democracy. He also underscored the importance of ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms in promoting peace and stability in the region and reaffirmed Korea’s intention to deepen cooperation under the new administration.

Regarding the Korean Peninsula, Vice Minister Park stated that the Korean government will continue to make every effort to achieve substantive progress in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. In particular, he emphasized that while the ROK will respond firmly to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and provocations in close coordination with the international community, it will also strive to reduce inter-Korean military tensions, build trust, and create room for dialogue and diplomacy.

Vice Minister Park called on the ARF, the only regional multilateral security forum in which North Korea participates, to support these efforts by the Korean government. He expressed hope that the ARF would continue to send clear and consistent messages urging North Korea to denuclearize, return to dialogue, and comply fully with relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

In addition, Vice Minister Park expressed concern over the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, stating that such cooperation must be carried out strictly within the framework of UNSC resolutions and international law.

He further stressed that in advancing inter-Korean reconciliation and regional peace, the ROK looks forward to working closely with ASEAN. Many participating countries expressed concern over North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile development and provocations, while also recognizing the ROK’s efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and resume inter-Korean communication.

In addition to the Korean Peninsula issue, the Ministers held active discussions on other regional and global matters, including the South China Sea, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East.

Vice Minister Park also highlighted the important role of the ARF in promoting regional peace and security, especially amid growing global uncertainty and tensions. He emphasized that, as a founding member of the ARF, the ROK remains firmly committed to contributing to confidence-building and preventive diplomacy through the ARF.