Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, front row fifth from right, poses with European diplomats during a tea meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' building in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul expressed concerns about recent North Korea-Russia military cooperation threatening global peace and stability, including on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe, during a meeting with European diplomats in Seoul on Tuesday.

Cho emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation between South Korea and Europe.

“The evolving cooperation between South Korea and European countries in defense, security, trade, investment, science and technology, the green transition and economic security is crucial,” Cho said.

He stressed that bilateral and multilateral cooperation between South Korea and Europe is essential for maintaining global peace.

Cho also highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict as threats to the rules-based international order. He urged stronger cooperation with European nations to resolve these issues and called for joint efforts to restore international order.

Additionally, Cho announced that South Korea will host a high-level meeting in September on the responsible military use of artificial intelligence, aiming to establish a foundation for the safe use of AI in armed conflict situations.

The foreign minister thanked the European diplomatic corps in Korea for their significant role in advancing South Korea-Europe relations. He encouraged continued interest in expanding cooperation and expressed hope for further development.

Piotr Ostaszewski, the Polish ambassador to South Korea, expressed gratitude on behalf of the European diplomats for the invitation to the meeting. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy in maintaining peace amid global conflicts and hoped for continued joint efforts for peace and prosperity between South Korea and European countries.