South Korean and Australian Leaders Urge North Korea to Scrap Missile Launch Plans

Strategic Insights -

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have called on North Korea to abandon its plan to launch a missile, which they believe will severely undermine world peace. The leaders made their appeal as they met in London for the G-20 economic summit, where they stressed the need for coordinated economic policies to combat the global economic crisis. Lee also urged the international community to take steps to counter protectionism, including expanding the role of the World Trade Organization.

Key Takeaways:

  • South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have jointly called on North Korea to scrap its plan to launch a missile, citing concerns over world peace.
  • The leaders emphasized the need for North Korea to abandon its missile launch plans, even if the launch is intended to put a satellite into orbit.
  • Lee and Rudd agreed to cooperate with the international community to draw up countermeasures to address the threat posed by North Korea's missile plans.
  • The two leaders emphasized the importance of coordinating economic policies and increasing spending to stimulate both domestic economies and the world economy.
  • Lee called on the World Trade Organization to expand its role to include monitoring and producing regular reports on countries engaged in protectionist trade and financial measures.
  • Lee has also urged countries to "roll back" on protectionist measures, which he believes have become more apparent in the market since the first G-20 summit in Washington.

Statistics:

  • The G-20 summit, which includes 20 major economies, will be held in London on April 2 (Thursday).
  • The summit will involve leaders from the United States, Japan, China, and the European Union, among others.
  • Lee has called for the World Trade Organization to expand its role to monitor and report on protectionist trade and financial measures.
  • Lee has also urged countries to "roll back" protectionist measures, which he believes have become more apparent in the market.
  • The G-20 leaders will discuss ways to end the global economic crisis, including coordinated economic policies and increased spending.

Sources:

  • Yonhap (no date) - "South Korea, Australia agree to cooperate on North Korea's rocket launch"