Korea Wraps Up 'Diplomacy Super Week,' Solidifying Multilateral Leadership
The so-called 'Diplomacy Super Week,' featuring a series of summit meetings with major nations held on the sidelines of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit, has concluded. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung focused on highlighting South Korea's international leadership by actively utilizing the multilateral diplomatic stage during this period. In particular, he sought practical cooperation in various fields such as economics, security, and diplomacy through bilateral talks with the leaders of key countries.
The summit that garnered the most attention during the 'Diplomacy Super Week' was the South Korea-U.S. summit. At this meeting, President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump resolved tariff-related challenges and reaffirmed the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance. The two leaders fostered a friendly atmosphere throughout the summit, showcasing their close relationship and highlighting the robustness of the alliance.
At this South Korea-U.S. summit, South Korea saw the possibility of resolving long-standing issues. Specifically, positive discussions were reportedly held on sensitive matters that had previously been difficult to obtain U.S. consent on, such as the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. In this regard, a government official stated, "This served as an opportunity for the U.S. to increase its understanding of South Korea's security and energy policies."
Improved relations with China are also considered a significant achievement of this 'Diplomacy Super Week.' At the South Korea-China summit, held in South Korea for the first time in 11 years, President Lee Jae-myung and the Chinese President agreed to normalize bilateral relations, which had been strained for nine years since the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). The two leaders are assessed to have deepened mutual understanding and laid the foundation for future-oriented relationship development through this summit.
In a joint press conference after the summit, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized, "This summit has provided an opportunity for bilateral relations to take a new leap forward." The Chinese President also expressed his willingness to improve relations, stating, "South Korea and China should pursue mutual prosperity based on mutual respect and understanding."
Efforts to normalize relations with Japan will also continue. South Korea and Japan have agreed to continue efforts to improve relations through shuttle diplomacy. Shuttle diplomacy, in which the leaders of both countries visit each other to discuss pending issues, is expected to be an important opportunity for improving relations.
As the multilateral order is shaken by the deepening conflict between the United States and China, South Korea played a leading role at this APEC summit by presenting new agendas. In particular, it contributed to the agreement of the 'Gyeongju Declaration' by emphasizing future cooperation areas such as new technologies and cultural exchanges. The 'Gyeongju Declaration' contains cooperation plans for sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
In his closing speech at the APEC summit, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "South Korea will continue to actively promote multilateral diplomacy and contribute to the peace and prosperity of the international community." He also emphasized, "In the rapidly changing international situation, South Korea will maximize its national interests through balanced diplomacy and continue its efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Experts assess that South Korea has succeeded in strengthening its leadership on the multilateral diplomatic stage and managing its relations with major countries stably through this 'Diplomacy Super Week.' However, it is also pointed out that challenges remain, such as the deepening U.S.-China conflict and North Korea's nuclear issue.
Political commentator Park said, "This APEC summit was an important opportunity to show the new possibilities of South Korean diplomacy," and analyzed, "In the future, South Korea should play a responsible role in the international community through more active diplomatic efforts."
