Scholz: North Korean ballistic missiles threaten South Korea and Japan
Improving Japanese Relations: “Respect for the courageous decision” to the President
Introducing paintings by artists from nurses dispatched to Germany
Promotion of the Military Secret Information Protection Agreement
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Korea on the 21st, said, “North Korea’s illegal development of weapons and nuclear weapons poses a great threat to South Korea’s security.” I will participate,” he said. It is the first visit to Korea by a sitting German chancellor in 30 years since Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s in 1993.
President Yoon Seok-yeol held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Scholz at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 21st and discussed ways to cooperate with the two countries. Prime Minister Scholz visited Korea on the occasion of attending the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, and had a summit following his visit to the DMZ.
Prime Minister Scholz said at a press conference after the meeting, “I was particularly impressed while visiting the DMZ. “We have already achieved unification 30 years ago and have been able to overcome the division,” he said. I felt it,” he said.
He added, “I am well aware that North Korea’s ballistic missile development is threatening even South Korea and Japan,” he said. Regarding President Yoon, who normalized relations with Japan, Prime Minister Scholz said, “I express my respect for making a courageous decision in relations with Japan, which is a historically very sensitive topic.”
President Yoon Seok-yeol listens to the remarks of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a joint press conference between the leaders of Korea and Germany held at the Presidential Office Building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 21st. 2023.05.21. newsisPresident Yoon also said at a joint press conference, “I think it is more meaningful as the first bilateral visit in 30 years was made in the year commemorating the 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany exchanges.”
Specifically, President Yoon explained, “We decided to expand our solid trade and investment ties to high-tech industries such as hydrogen, semiconductors, bio, and clean energy.” He also expressed his intention to expand cooperation in the military and defense industry, saying, “We will cooperate to ensure the smooth operation of the supply chain for defense projects by quickly concluding an agreement on the protection of classified military information with Germany.” In addition, President Yoon asked Prime Minister Scholz to “closely cooperate with the Korean side in the process of drafting and implementing various economic legislation currently being pursued by the EU.”
The possibility of cooperation in the semiconductor and automobile industries was also suggested. Prime Minister Scholz said, “We will cooperate with Korea on the production of electric vehicles and batteries,” adding, “Korea has many innovative companies in the semiconductor sector. I hope that Korea will invest a lot (in this sector) in Germany.”
In response, President Yoon also said, “Germany is ahead in renewable energy technology and has many world-leading pharmaceutical companies, so there are many areas where we can cooperate.” is looking for,” he explained.
First Lady Kim Kun-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, welcomes first lady Britta Ernst, wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on the 21st. (Provided by the Office of the President)Ahead of the summit, President Yoon introduced the picture hanging on the wall of the presidential office to Prime Minister Scholz. This work is called ‘Under a Corner of the Earth’ by Noh Eun-nim (1946-2022), a former nurse sent to Germany. Prime Minister Scholz expressed his gratitude for President Yoon’s consideration for the relationship between Germany and Korea, saying, “The painting is really beautiful.”
In this atmosphere, Chancellor Scholz said at a press conference, “I also saw a picture of an artist who came to Germany as a nurse but built a great career as an artist in Hamburg.” did.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.