South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during the first session of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday (local time). Yonhap
President Yoon Suk Yeol called for international solidarity to address growing concerns over military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, as he strongly condemned the two countries at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Brazil on Monday (local time), the presidential office said Tuesday.
His condemnation resonated with leaders of major countries at the summit, currently being held in Rio de Janeiro, who criticized Russia for undermining global peace and North Korea for supporting that effort, according to the office. Yoon also urged an immediate halt to military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
"I strongly urge North Korea and Russia to immediately cease their illegal military cooperation. I also appeal to the leaders of the G20 to unite in determination and actions to defend the rules-based international order," Yoon was quoted as saying during his speech at the first session of the summit by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during the first session of the G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday (local time). Yonhap
The presidential office noted that Yoon's criticism garnered additional attention, as his remarks directly followed those of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was attending the G20 session on behalf of President Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov's speech focused on support for underdeveloped countries and climate change, but he remained tight-lipped on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its military ties with North Korea, a presidential official said.
According to the official, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also strongly criticized Russia's actions in Ukraine during the session. U.S. President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all followed suit, condemning both Russia and North Korea in their speeches.
Von der Leyen said Russia is worsening global food security through the war, while Trudeau pointed out that North Korea is undermining world peace by participating in the conflict, the official added.
The first G20 summit session, which began in the morning, ran more than two hours over its scheduled time due to heated debates and speeches from leaders of invited countries.
Leaders of invited countries attend the first session of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday (local time). Yonhap
Kim, who is traveling with Yoon for the G20 events, said that the separate bilateral meetings the president had planned with the leaders of South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico on the sidelines of the summit had to be canceled due to time constraints.
In his speech, Yoon also actively engaged in issues such as cooperation between developing and advanced nations, as well as climate and energy challenges. The presidential office highlighted that Yoon's attendance at the G20 summit for the third consecutive year underscores South Korea's commitment to its role as a responsible global leader.
"At this summit, South Korea reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a 'bridge of prosperity' and a 'green ladder,' connecting developing and advanced nations," Kim said.
President Yoon Suk Yeol stands next to leaders from the MIKTA group on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday (local time.) From left are Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Norman Albanese and Yoon. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the South Korean president also held a meeting with the MIKTA group on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The member states of the MIKTA group are Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia.
The MIKTA leaders adopted a joint statement following the meeting, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining global peace and security.
"At a time of multiple crises and geopolitical confrontation, MIKTA leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a safe, peaceful, just, equal, inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world for all, calling on all U.N. member states to uphold the United Nations Charter and U.N. resolutions, including those adopted by the Security Council," the joint statement reads.
South Korea will assume the MIKTA chairmanship in 2025. Yoon pledged to further enhance MIKTA's international influence through South Korea's chairmanship next year.
This year, Mexico, as the current chair, focused on strengthening multilateralism, promoting women-centered development, and improving coordination among development cooperation organizations.