[尹대통령, 英 국빈 방문]
U.S. state visit to promote cooperation in nuclear power plants
Negotiations with the UK on new nuclear power plants resume after four years
With President Yoon Seok-yeol’s state visit to the UK as an opportunity, Korea and the UK signed nine memorandums of understanding (MOU) on nuclear power plant cooperation on the 22nd (local time) and will begin discussions on participation in the construction of new nuclear power plants. The foundation has been laid for the resumption of related discussions four years after KEPCO’s failure to acquire the new British nuclear power plant project (Moorside) in 2019. While the government is focusing on restoring the nuclear power plant ecosystem and exporting nuclear power plants, the Democratic Party of Korea completely cut the 181.3 billion won budget for normalizing the nuclear power plant ecosystem, including the budget related to nuclear power plant export guarantees, in next year’s budget. While countries around the world are fiercely competing to develop non-carbon energy technologies such as hydrogen and nuclear energy and win business orders, some point out that if budget cuts are finalized, the golden time for exports and technological innovation could be missed.
According to the President’s Office and the government, on the 22nd, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang Kyu Bang and British Minister of Energy, Security and Carbon Neutrality Claire Cutino signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on nuclear power plant cooperation, and KEPCO E&C signed a memorandum of understanding with a British engineering company to advise on licensing and development of nuclear power plant design technology. conclude. This means that a consensus has been formed on building a cooperative relationship across the entire nuclear power plant cycle. In this situation, in response to the Democratic Party’s cut of the nuclear power plant budget, including the innovative small module raw material (i-SMR) technology development project (KRW 33.3 billion), at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee, President of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Jeong Beom-jin said, “Next year “If the budget for restoring the nuclear power plant ecosystem is cut, I am concerned about the negative impact it will have on the export front,” he said.
President Yoon and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunnack held a summit meeting and upgraded the relationship between the two countries from the existing ‘comprehensive and creative partnership’ to a ‘global strategic partnership’. The ‘Downing Street Accord’ is adopted, which contains the will to jointly respond to cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital, nuclear power, space science, bio, quantum technology, offshore wind power, and clean energy. President Yoon is the first state guest invited by King Charles III since his coronation in May.
In his speech to the British Parliament, the dispatch of troops on June 25 was mentioned… “We will forever remember the noble sacrifice of the British soldiers.”
Expansion of bilateral training – FTA improvement negotiations, etc. Prime Minister Sunnack adopts the ‘Downing Street Agreement’
“For this friendship may prove so happy, to turn our challenges to pure opportunity.”
State guest welcome ceremony President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee, who are on a state visit to the United Kingdom, salute the national flag to the playing of the national anthem at the official welcoming ceremony held at Horseguards Square in London on the 21st (local time). When President Yoon inspected the royal guards, Arirang was played, and the honor guard gave a report on the inspection preparations in Korean. Front row, from left, First Lady Kim, President Yoon, King Charles III of England, Queen Camilla, Prince William, the eldest son of Charles III, and Princess Kate Middleton. London = When President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United Kingdom, made this announcement in a speech to the British Parliament at the Royal Gallery of the British Parliament in London on the 21st (local time), there was a standing ovation in the hall. This year, the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the anticipation of cooperation between Korea and the UK was expressed by quoting a passage from the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by the great British writer Shakespeare. This is President Yoon’s second English speech, after practicing his British accent before the state visit, following his speech to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives when he visited as a state guest in April.
In his speech, President Yoon said, “I am very honored to stand in the British Parliament, the mother of parliaments,” and added, “Britain was a pioneer in modern and contemporary world history. “He laid the cornerstone of liberal democracy and allowed the market economic order to flourish,” he said. President Yoon mentioned the fact that Britain dispatched 80,000 troops during the Korean War and said, “Like the Gloucester unit’s slogan, ‘We are remembered by our actions,’ the noble sacrifice of the British troops will forever remain in the memories of Koreans.” He emphasized. He then expressed his deep gratitude and infinite respect, saying, “We have welcomed Colin Thackeray, a veteran of the Korean War and Honorary Minister of Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea.”
In addition, President Yoon cited Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s remark that “the price of greatness is responsibility,” and said, “It is time for the two countries to contribute to a better future for humanity as creative partners.” He continued, “We will work with the UK to respond to the threat of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) while also strengthening cooperation against cyber crimes in the international community, such as virtual currency theft and technology hacking.” When President Yoon said, “If the UK has the right feet of The Beatles, Queen, Harry Potter, and David Beckham, Korea has the right feet of BTS, Blackpink, Squid Game, and Son Heung-min,” the audience applauded.
The British royal family prepared the highest level of courtesy for President Yoon and his Korean entourage, whom he invited as the first state guest since the coronation of King Charles III. Prior to the official welcoming ceremony on the 21st (local time), Prince William and his wife visited President Yoon and his wife in person to welcome them. After exchanging pleasantries, the two couples shared a car and traveled together to Hosgaz Square, the official welcoming ceremony site. Following the 41-gun salute, which is the highest courtesy in accordance with the state visit, President Yoon and his wife inspected the Royal Guards along with King Charles III. Usually, 21 shots are fired when a head of state visits. The British honor guard and military band played Arirang, a Korean folk song. The honor captain gave a report on preparations for the inspection in Korean.
After the welcoming ceremony, President Yoon took a golden carriage with Charles III and moved to Buckingham Palace, 1.6km away, along a boulevard called ‘the mall.’ Among the seven carriages, No. 1 ‘Irish Carriage’, pulled by four white horses, is President Yoon and Charles III, No. 2 ‘Australian Carriage’ is First Lady Kim Geon-hee and Queen Camilla, and No. 3 to No. 7 are ministers from both countries and Korean entourage. Key staff members were on board. In England, carriages are used for large and small royal events.
Following the official welcome ceremony, welcome lunch, parliamentary speech, and state dinner, President Yoon is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the 22nd (local time) and adopt the ‘Downing Street Accord’. Negotiations between the two countries to improve the Korea-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will also resume. In his speech to the National Assembly, President Yoon said, “This time, we will begin negotiations to improve the Korea-U.K. FTA to lay the foundation for cooperation in supply chains and digital trade.”
In particular, the two countries decided to increase the level of cooperation by expanding joint training and promoting joint maritime patrols to enforce UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. We will emphasize our joint stance on issues on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s nuclear program, and will also raise the level of cooperation on global issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the Indo-Pacific-Middle East situation. We will also strengthen our capabilities to respond to cyber threats by concluding a ‘strategic cyber partnership’. It also included a plan to develop defense industry cooperation through the signing of a joint defense industry export memorandum of understanding (MOU).
London =
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.