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President Yoon Suk-yeol answers questions from reporters while commuting to his office on June 24. (presidential office pool photo)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol headed to Madrid on Monday in order to attend the NATO summit that’s taking place from Wednesday to Thursday. During his debut in multilateral diplomacy, Yoon will also be partaking in a trilateral summit with the leaders of the US and Japan, the first of its kind in four years and nine months.

With South Korea cozying up with partnerships centering on Western powers and led by the US as well as kick-starting its trilateral cooperation with the US and Japan in earnest amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it has become even more likely that the country may face setbacks in its diplomatic efforts with China and Russia in the future.

During a briefing in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Sunday, an official in the South Korean presidential office said that Yoon is scheduled to attend “at least 14 diplomatic engagements during his upcoming trip.”

A South Korean president has never before attended a summit of NATO, one of the most well-known military alliances of the West.

On Wednesday, when his schedule officially begins, Yoon will be participating in eight summit-level conferences including summits and informal meetings, as well as making a speech to NATO and attending the South Korea-US-Japan summit — two engagements that have been drawing the most interest.

Regarding the South Korea-US-Japan summit, scheduled for 2:30 pm Wednesday, the presidential office said, “We anticipate that the leaders will partake in deep conversations about security issues in the area.” However, the summit will take place for only about 30 minutes, which suggests that it will serve as an occasion for the leaders to be introduced to each other ahead of future trilateral cooperation regarding China and North Korea rather than as a meeting focusing on a full-on discussion of agendas.

The mood indicates that a bilateral meeting between Yoon and the Japanese prime minister, which has been greatly anticipated, will not take place either in the form of an official summit or a pull-aside meeting. The presidential office said the two leaders will likely not meet one-on-one, hinting that relevant agendas have not been coordinated due to political circumstances in South Korea and Japan.

“South Korea and Japan have never discussed past historical problems which need to be resolved. Wouldn’t it be better to not [have a meeting] if there will be nothing to say to the press once discussions begin?” the official asked.

Regarding this, the official continued, “Once flights between Gimpo and Haneda are resumed this Wednesday, private exchange will recommence, which will help the foreign ministers’ meeting between South Korea and Japan scheduled for after the Japanese House of Councillors election in July to pick up speed.”

“We believe there will be momentum for the resolution of pending issues between South Korea and Japan, including the forced labor issue, at the working level,” the official stated. “Afterwards, shuttle diplomacy between the leaders of South Korea and Japan may be discussed.”

On Wednesday, Yoon plans to mention the proactive role South Korea has and will play in responding to complex international security crises during his three-minute speech at the summit with leaders of NATO member states and partners in the audience. “[Yoon] will urge cooperation among NATO members by emphasizing that the war in Ukraine and the problem of North Korea’s nuclear program are both serious security concerns,” the presidential office said.

With observers predicting that the upcoming NATO summit will sharpen the opposition between the democratic and authoritarian blocs, Yoon’s actions may be interpreted as a move intended to bring South Korea closer to Western partnerships spearheaded by the US, posing challenges to the country’s relations with China and Russia.

Especially of note, NATO will be coming up with a new “strategic concept,” which will include considerations about how to respond to China, at the upcoming summit.

First lady Kim Keon-hee will be accompanying Yoon to Madrid, making her debut on the diplomatic stage. Yoon and Kim will both be attending Tuesday’s gala dinner hosted by Spain’s King Felipe VI and a dinner meeting of Korean compatriots in Spain on Wednesday.

Kim will also be participating in the program for spouses of state leaders attending the NATO summit and partake in engagements related to the arts, visiting the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Royal Theatre.

In regard to Kim’s attendance, the presidential office said, “As [the arts] is Kim’s specialty, [she] will be able to participate in exchange proactively.”

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]