South Korean president to attend NATO summit in Ankara, visit Mongolia

By Heejin Kim and Kyu-seok Shim

SEOUL, July 3 (Reuters) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, from July 7 to 8, Seoul’s ​national security adviser said on Friday.

Lee aims to build ‌defence industry cooperation between South Korea and NATO member countries, Wi Sung-lac told a press briefing.

In Ankara, Lee will meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and take part in a group summit with leaders from Indo-Pacific countries, including Japan, ‌New ​Zealand and Australia, Wi said.

He will also ⁠attend the NATO defence ⁠industry forum and deliver a speech at one of its sessions.

“As geopolitical instability deepens, NATO member states are increasing their defence spending and also pursuing efforts to strengthen their own domestic defence ​production capabilities,” Wi said.

“South Korea, which is not a NATO member, must advance partnerships with NATO based on the alliance’s standards ⁠to facilitate exports of defence materials,” ⁠he said.

Cooperation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific region has ​been continuously strengthening since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, ​the adviser added.

“The security of Europe is not irrelevant to ‌that of Asia,” Wi said.

“North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine is a striking example.”

Lee’s office is arranging more summits with leaders of other countries for defence cooperation, Wi added, without elaborating.

After ⁠the two-day trip to Turkey, Lee will arrive in Ulaanbaatar on July 9 for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Mongolian President ⁠Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Lee’s ‌office said.

On the first day of the visit, ⁠the two leaders will hold a summit, issue a ​joint ‌statement and sign multiple memorandums of understanding, Wi ​said.

South Korea ⁠views Mongolia as a key partner given its reserves of critical minerals and as a neighbour that can contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula through its close ties with North Korea, Wi said.

(Reporting by Heejin Kim and Kyu-seok Shim; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Feast ​and Thomas Derpinghaus)