Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul returns home via Incheon International Airport, Feb. 17, after attending the Munich Security Conference. Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul urged an end to Russia's war in Ukraine and its illegal military cooperation with North Korea during a multilateral meeting in South Africa earlier this week, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Saturday.

Cho made the call at the foreign ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 nations (G20) in Johannesburg, held from Thursday through Friday (local time), highlighting the deepening security links between Europe and Asia.

"Minister Cho highlighted the growing security ties between Europe and Asia amid the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea," the ministry said in a release.

"He strongly urged an end to the war in Ukraine and called for the immediate termination of Russia-North Korea military cooperation," it said.

Cho's calls were echoed by other like-minded countries, including Australia, Canada and Japan, during the meeting, the ministry added.

Cho reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to continue providing assistance for Ukraine and helping rebuild the country after the war. He called on the G20 to take an active role in international efforts to achieve peaceful solutions to major ongoing conflicts, including those in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

Regarding the Middle East, Cho welcomed the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip and expressed expectations for its "swift and complete implementation."

Cho also voiced hope for the establishment of a new Syria through a peaceful and inclusive political process as pledged by the transitional government.

On the second day, Cho attended a session for discussions on shared global challenges, from artificial intelligence to climate and energy.

"He called for a constructive dialogue on the role of the G20 to drive and strengthen the multilateral cooperation of the international community," the ministry said.

While in Johannesburg, Cho also met separately with his counterparts from key partner countries on the sidelines, including the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Spain, Algeria and South Africa.

The bilateral talks followed Cho's one-on-one meetings with his Australian and British counterparts the previous day. (Yonhap)