The 9th Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom held in Seoul

On October 21, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul of the Republic of Korea(ROK) and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy of the United Kingdom(UK) held the 9th ROK-UK Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue* in Seoul. The two Ministers discussed a wide range of topics, encompassing bilateral cooperation, international cooperation, and regional and global issues.

* The 1st Strategic Dialogue was held in December 2014, and the 8th Strategic Dialogue was held in September 2023.

Minister Cho and Foreign Secretary Lammy noted the significance of this Strategic Dialogue as it marks the first Strategic Dialogue since the elevation of bilateral relations between the two countries to a “Global Strategic Partnership” in accordance with the “Downing Street Accord” agreed upon during President Yoon Suk Yeol's State Visit to the UK last November.

Minister Cho welcomed the first visit by the UK's Foreign Secretary since the Labour Party came to power. He expressed his appreciation for the continued close relationship between the two countries as shown by the ROK-UK Summit held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit this past July.

Foreign Secretary Lammy stressed the Labour government's commitment to the ROK-UK Global Strategic Partnership, reiterating that the UK will faithfully implement the “Downing Street Accord,” as Prime Minister Starmer emphasized at the aforementioned bilateral Summit.

Minister Cho provided a detailed explanation of the current situation where the political, economic, and military cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) and Russia has recently been expanded in various areas, from the transfer of military materials to the actual deployment of DPRK troops. Foreign Secretary Lammy expressed deep concern over the seriousness of this situation. Both Ministers agreed that the DPRK's illicit arms transfer and troop deployment to Russia pose a serious threat to peace and security of both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. They agreed to closely monitor what Russia provides to the DPRK in return as well as to maintain close coordination between the ROK and the UK on both bilateral and multilateral fronts.

Foreign Secretary Lammy expressed his support for the ROK’s “Audacious Initiative” and reiterated the UK’s support for a free, peaceful, prosperous, and unified Korean Peninsula, while acknowledging the importance the ROK places on the “August 15 Unification Doctrine.”

Both Ministers shared the view that today's geopolitical landscape demonstrates the interconnectedness of security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and exchanged in-depth views on regional and international developments, including in Northeast Asia, the Middle East and Ukraine.

Minister Cho pointed out that as a country that shares democratic values, the ROK is capable of making meaningful contributions to international peace and prosperity, and stressed its intention to strengthen cooperation with the G7 on major global issues. Foreign Secretary Lammy acknowledged the importance of the ROK's role and agreed to further enhance collaboration in different multilateral fora such as the G7 and the G20.

The two Ministers reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation including the negotiations for upgrading the ROK-UK FTA, high-tech science, AI, quantum technology and biotechnology, cyber cooperation, climate change, clean energy, such as nuclear energy, and development cooperation. They agreed to further enhance cooperation to deepen the Global Strategic Partnership between the two countries and to continue in-depth discussions by holding the first-ever Foreign and Defence 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in the first half of next year.

The two Ministers adopted a joint statement summarizing the outcomes of this Strategic Dialogue and a separate statement condemning the military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia.