Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has also offered South Korea Germany’s support in regional conflicts. Cooperation with the country should be expanded in the areas of climate, economy, but also security, said Baerbock on Saturday in Seoul. Just as other nations stand up for security in Europe, one must “take the concerns and needs here in the region seriously,” she added during a joint appearance with her counterpart Park Jin. This applies to both a threat from North Korea and tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Germany will participate in monitoring the sanctions against North Korea. She described the North Korean missile tests as illegal under international law and a “real threat” to the region. You can’t “lean back”. Just last week, French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that he did not see the importance of these conflicts as a priority for the EU.
You can count on us to be by your side as a partner. We won’t forget that.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock thanked South Korea for supporting Ukraine.
“We want to get more involved in the Indo-Pacific,” said the Green politician, referring to the corresponding strategy of the federal government. The Indo-Pacific is a key region for the 21st century. She also spoke about this during her visit to China. She thanked South Korea for supporting Ukraine after the Russian invasion. “You can count on us to stand by your side as partners,” she said. “We won’t forget that.”
Baerbock praised the rapprochement between South Korea and Japan, their next destination. The closer ties between the two Asian democracies contribute to stability in the region. For decades, relations between Japan and South Korea were strained by disputes over how to deal with memories of World War II. Japanese troops had occupied Korea at the time, and the lack of compensation for forced prostitutes was particularly controversial. (rtr)
