South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was greeted by Britain’s King Charles III and a military honor guard on Tuesday at the start of a state visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties between the two countries.
Quick Read
- South Korean President’s State Visit to the U.K.: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is on a formal three-day visit to the United Kingdom, welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The visit focuses on enhancing trade and defense ties.
- Ceremonial Reception: Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, were greeted with a military honor guard at Horse Guards Parade. They participated in a traditional inspection of soldiers and were escorted to Buckingham Palace for a state banquet.
- Indo-Pacific Tilt in U.K. Foreign Policy: The U.K. government views President Yoon’s visit as pivotal in reinforcing its “Indo-Pacific tilt” in foreign and trade strategies.
- Bilateral Meetings and Agreements: Yoon is set to address Parliament and have discussions with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on trade, technology, and defense. They plan to sign a defense agreement for naval cooperation against smuggling and enforcing U.N. sanctions on North Korea.
- Trade Talks and AI Cooperation: U.K. and South Korean officials will initiate talks on an “upgraded” free trade agreement. The two countries also plan to collaborate in defense technology and artificial intelligence, with the U.K. having hosted an AI Safety Summit and South Korea preparing to host a follow-up event.
- Investment in Semiconductor Manufacturing: The U.K. intends to invest in South Korean semiconductor production to diversify the global supply of these crucial components, currently concentrated in Taiwan.
- Prime Minister Sunak’s Statement: Sunak highlighted the significance of the agreements with South Korea, aiming to drive investment, boost trade, and build a resilient and mutually beneficial relationship.
The Associated Press has the story:
South Korea’s President gets Royal welcome on UK state visit
Newslooks- LONDON (AP)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was greeted by Britain’s King Charles III and a military honor guard on Tuesday at the start of a state visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties between the two countries.
The U.K. government hopes the Korean leader’s formal three-day visit will help cement an “ Indo-Pacific tilt ” in its foreign and trade policy.
The king and Queen Camilla greeted Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee at Horse Guards Parade, a military parade ground in central London. Heir to the throne Prince William and government ministers also attended the welcome ceremony, where the king and president inspected rows of soldiers from the Scots Guards in grey tunics and bearskin hats.
The visiting couple traveled by horse-drawn coach down an avenue lined with British and Korean flags to Buckingham Palace. The king is due to host a state banquet for the guests at the palace on Tuesday evening.
Yoon also is scheduled to address Parliament and to hold talks Wednesday with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on trade, technology and defense. A defense agreement will see the two countries’ navies work together to curb smuggling and to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions.
U.K. and Korean officials also will officially launch talks on an “upgraded” free trade agreement to replace their current deal, which largely replicates the arrangements the U.K. had before it left the European Union.
Britain has launched trade talks with several countries since leaving the EU in 2020, though it has finalized deals only with Australia and New Zealand. The U.K. also has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, an Asia-Pacific trade bloc that includes Japan and 10 other nations.
Sunak and Yoon are expected to sign an agreement covering cooperation in defense and technology, including artificial intelligence. Britain hosted the first international AI Safety Summit this month, and South Korea intends to hold a follow-up event next year.
Britain also plans to invest in South Korean semiconductor manufacturing as part of international efforts to diversify the supply of the key computer components. Many of the advanced chips are produced in Taiwan, and the coronavirus pandemic and an increasingly assertive China have heightened concerns about future supply.
Sunak said agreements made during Yoon’s visit would “drive investment, boost trade and build a friendship that not only supports global stability, but protects our interests and lasts the test of time.”
