By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the G20 Summit, held a summit with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Nov. 19, and exchanged views on regional and global issues, including ways to enhance practical cooperation between the two countries and countering Russia-North Korea military cooperation.

President Yoon evaluated the close communication between the two countries as befits their 'global strategic partnership', including the Korea-UK Summit on the occasion of the NATO Summit in July, the Strategic Dialogue between the two foreign ministers in October, and the summit, and called for further strengthening cooperation in all fields. 

In response, Prime Minister Starmer said that the British government also attaches great importance to communicating closely with friendly countries such as South Korea and exploring ways to cooperate together amidst rapidly changing circumstances, and called for continued strategic communication through various opportunities.

Based on the 'Downing Street Accord' agreed by the two countries during their state visits in November last year, the two leaders evaluated the faithful implementation of various cooperation issues in defense and defense industry, economy and trade, and climate change response, and decided to communicate more closely, especially on the launch of the 'Diplomatic and Defense 2+2 Meeting' between the two countries, in negotiations to improve the Korea-UK FTA, and strengthening cooperation in the field of carbon-free energy (CFE).

The two leaders also shared their assessments of the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and trends related to illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and appreciated the strong condemnation that both countries have issued in unison at various occasions, and agreed to continue to work closely together for a unified response. 

They also agreed that the security of Northeast Asia and Europe is more interconnected than ever before, and called on the international community to stand together for peace and reconstruction in Ukraine.

The two leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the international arena, including the UN Security Council, G7, and G20, and to continue strategic communication on various regional and global issues.