President Yun Seok-yeol (left) and First Lady Kim Kun-hee arrived at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 1st and disembarked from Air Force Unit 1, following visiting Madrid, Spain for 3 nights and 5 days to attend the NATO summit. [사진=연합뉴스]
President Yoon Seok-yeol made his multilateral diplomacy debut by attending the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain from June 29 to 30 (local time) and digesting 16 schedules for 3 nights and 5 days.
Although there were monumental events such as the Korea-US-Japan summit held for the first time in five years, and the participation and remarks at the first NATO summit of the Korean president, controversies such as ‘group photo with closed eyes’ and ‘no-look handshake’ have also been raised.
◆”The most meaningful schedule is the Korea-US-Japan summit”
On the way home on the 1st, on the way home, President Yoon met with reporters in Air Force No. 1, the presidential plane, and asked, ‘What is the most memorable and impressive tour schedule? It was a schedule to go to,” he replied.
In particular, he said, “The three leaders agreed on the principle that it is desirable to resume military security cooperation that has been suspended for a long time in order to respond to the North Korean nuclear program. It will be further developed by
President Yun Seok-yeol (left) talks with US President Joe Biden (center) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Korea-US-Japan summit held at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain on the 29th (local time). [사진=연합뉴스]
The first Korean president to attend NATO… “I will fulfill my bigger role and responsibility”
President Yoon gave a three-minute speech at the summit of allies and partners, the official session of the NATO summit on the 29th, and said, “The international community is facing complex security threats that cannot be resolved by a single country.” I will fulfill my big role and responsibility.”
“I look forward to working closely with NATO allies in the areas of economic and security, health, and emerging technologies such as cybersecurity,” he said.
“North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles are a significant challenge to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community,” he said. He asked for the support and cooperation of the leaders of NATO allies and partners.
President Yun Seok-yeol (second from right) attends the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and partners summit held at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain on the 29th. [사진=연합뉴스]
◆’Group photo with closed eyes’ controversy… “Administrative mistake”
NATO took a commemorative photo of the leaders of Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and the NATO Secretary-General, who attended as ‘Asia-Pacific Partners’ at the Madrid Exhibition and Convention Center (IFEMA), and posted it on the official website.
However, in the first published photo, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Norman Albanage, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Kate Laurel Ardern had their eyes open, but President Yun was alone with their eyes closed.
In response, critics of ‘diplomatic disrespect’ were raised, saying ‘Isn’t NATO intentionally ignoring Korea?’ An official from the presidential office said, “It is difficult to inspect all the NATO posts,” and “I think it may be a small administrative mistake.” The NATO side also replaced the picture with President Yoon’s eyes open.
President Yun Seok-yeol (right) poses for a commemorative photo with other participants at the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain on the 29th (local time). From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanage, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and President Yun. [사진=나토 정상회의 공식 홈페이지]
Biden’s ‘no-look handshake’… “Happening, politicians are busy”
President Yoon and President Joe Biden of the United States attended a welcome dinner hosted by King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife on the 28th, and shook hands while taking a group photo.
As President Biden moved to JoongAng’s seat, he first asked for a handshake with President Yoon, and President Yoon smiled brightly and extended his hand, but President Biden’s gaze turned to the Bulgarian President Lumen Radev, who shook hands next, so-called ‘ Controversy over the no-look handshake has been raised.
Although it was claimed that President Biden ignored President Yoon, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won explained in various media interviews, “It’s a happening. Politicians are always busy.”
An official from the presidential office also said, “It’s dangerous to talk regarding the relationship between the leaders or the relationship between the two countries over a fleeting moment. He emphasized that there is sufficient consensus and sympathy between the two leaders.
President Yun Seok-yeol (center), who visited Spain to attend the NATO summit, attended a dinner hosted by King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife held at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain on the 28th (local time), before taking a commemorative photo. Greetings from President Eden of the United States. [사진=연합뉴스]
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- Seonghwi Lee
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