South Korea's Prime Minister Meets with Ukrainian President to Strengthen Ties and Discuss North Korea's Nuclear Program

Strategic Insights -

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Kiev on October 24, 2003, to discuss pending issues between the two countries and strengthen bilateral ties. The meeting came after the fourth round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which ended in early September in Beijing. Lee briefed Yushchenko on the outcome of the talks, which produced a joint statement for a security guarantee and economic benefits in return for North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear program.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to discuss pending issues between the two countries, including South Korea's efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear disarmament issue.
  • Lee briefed Yushchenko on the outcome of the fourth round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, which ended in early September in Beijing.
  • The prime minister appealed for Ukraine's continued support and cooperation in South Korea's efforts to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully.
  • Lee conveyed South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's message to Yushchenko, expressing admiration for the orderly and mature attitude shown by the Ukrainian people during the "Orange Revolution" that brought Yushchenko to power in 2004.
  • Lee asked Yushchenko to visit South Korea at a mutually convenient time, expressing the desire for increased exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
  • The prime minister met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk to express gratitude for Ukraine's support for South Korea on the global stage and to seek more support for South Korean businesses and Ukrainians with Korean parentage.
  • Lee also met with Korean residents in Ukraine at a dinner in Kiev, vowing to provide educational and other support to ethnic Koreans in the country.

Statistics:

  • The four rounds of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program resulted in a joint statement providing a security guarantee and economic benefits in return for North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear program.
  • The talks produced a joint statement in early September 2003.
  • Lee arrived in Ukraine on October 23, 2003, for a three-day visit that also took him to Frankfurt and Paris.
  • About 90 Korean residents in Ukraine attended a dinner with the prime minister in Kiev.

Sources:

(Yonhap) 24-10-10-2003