President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the East Asia Summit held at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, Friday. Yonhap

VIENTIANE, Laos — The South Korean government has pledged to provide $23 million in order to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, President Yoon Suk Yeol said during his attendance at the East Asia Sumit (EAS) held in Vientiane, Laos.

The EAS is a top-level strategic forum involving 18 Indo-Pacific countries, including 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, as well as eight other participating countries — South Korea, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, India and Russia.

In his remarks at the EAS on Friday, the South Korean president emphasized that the conflict in Myanmar is a test of the problem-solving capabilities of the rules-based regional order, highlighting that violence in the country must cease immediately in accordance with the agreement made by the ASEAN, and that all parties should begin talking.

South Korea has been providing support to Myanmar, with plans to offer $23 million in humanitarian aid this year, which is four times the amount provided last year.

Additionally, Yoon urged countries to collaborate on swiftly reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and negotiations for hostage releases to address the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, emphasizing that the region's conflicts are closely linked to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific as well.

He further noted that as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the South Korean government will make every effort to ensure that peace is swiftly restored through dialogue and cooperation among the involved parties.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the East Asia Summit held at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, Friday. Yonhap

The illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is another key issue that the South Korean president underscored during his remarks at the summit.

He stressed that the unlawful military collaboration between Russia and North Korea is extending the conflict in Ukraine and directly defying UN Security Council resolutions. Saying it is crucial to bolster the solidarity of countries in order to defend the rules-based international order, South Korea vowed to expand security, humanitarian and reconstruction support for Ukraine, working closely with the international community throughout the process.

In particular, the South Korean president condemned North Korea's actions, which undermine the livelihoods and human rights of its people, while threatening the South with nuclear weapons solely for the regime's survival.

Yoon warned that these actions will increasingly jeopardize peace not only in Northeast Asia but throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region. He stressed that the international community must ensure that it will never tolerate North Korea's nuclear development and provocations. The South Korean president also laid out his vision for a free and unified Korean Peninsula.

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a summit talk held at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos, Friday. Yonhap

Earlier in the day, Yoon also held a summit meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Convention Center in the Laotian capital city.

Albanese noted that South Korea and Australia, as key allies in the Indo-Pacific, should continue to strengthen special ties among like-minded countries through close bilateral cooperation.

Yoon agreed, adding that the two like-minded countries, who share many values, will continue to deepen communication and cooperation at all levels based on their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two leaders also discussed ways to advance partnerships beyond traditional economic cooperation to include defense, the defense industry, supply chains and economic security, agreeing to further expand cooperation in these areas based on the solid trust between their two nations.

In this context, President Yoon highlighted the willingness of Korean companies to participate in Australia's ongoing acquisition project for escort ships and requested the Australian side's attention.

The Australian Navy is pursuing a project to acquire 11 multi-role escort ships as part of its military modernization program.