Acting President Choi Ensuring Diplomatic & Security Posture Not Compromised

The four ministries of Foreign Affairs, Unification, Defense, and National Veterans Affairs reviewed their work plans for the current fiscal year and held a meeting to resolve major issues in the field of diplomacy and security under the chairmanship of Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister of Strategy and Finance, at the Government Complex Seoul, on Jan. 16, 2025.
At the meeting, the ministries discussed key issues in the field of foreign affairs and security in order to ensure that there should be no gap in the diplomatic and security fields at the face of unprecedented uncertainties in the international order and the deepening disconnect between North and South Korea, including North Korea’s claim of ‘two hostile states’.
Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs has prioritized the following as key tasks, in order to stably manage external relations under an unwavering diplomatic stance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prioritized the following as key tasks.
First, establish a full-fledged consultation channel with the second Trump administration early on for economic cooperation and North Korean nuclear cooperation with the new U.S. administration. To this end, MOFA will create new growth engines through future-oriented economic cooperation between the two countries while minimizing potential risk factors and actively discovering and expanding opportunity factors. In addition, South Korea will deter North Korea’s provocations through the early establishment of the U.S.-ROK North Korea coordination system and closely coordinate on North Korea policy, including measures to counter North Korea’s nuclear weapons and a roadmap for denuclearization.
South Korea will create a stable external environment through strategic management of relations with neighboring countries.
With Japan, the government should continue the momentum of cooperation created through high-level exchanges, such as the recent visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and make steady progress in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between two countries this year to ensure that the hard-won progress in bilateral relations does not stagnate.
With China, the government should build on the positive changes that have been achieved over the past two and a half years based on the principles of mutual respect, reciprocity, and common interests, and wisely utilize the fact that China and Japan will hold the APEC chairmanships this year and next year, respectively, to develop a healthier and more mature cooperative relationship.
And with regard to Russia, the government will continue to call for an end to illegal military cooperation, while maintaining communication and making necessary efforts to protect people and businesses.
For the successful host of the APEC Summit, the largest multilateral diplomatic event to be held in Korea since the G20 Summit (2010) and the Nuclear Security Summit (2012). For this end, the government will enhance confidence in national capabilities by organizing nearly 200 meetings of various levels and sectors across the country as scheduled, including the Gyeongju Summit, which will host for the first time in 20 years.

South Korea will strengthen economic and security diplomacy with major countries to prevent supply chain instability from overseas from adversely affecting the people’s economy. In particular, Korea will actively respond to economic security issues such as supply chain disruptions, centering on the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), which Korea chair.

While focusing on “stable management of the situation on the Korean Peninsula” as its top priority, the Ministry of Unification has decided to strengthen its global unification capabilities and expand customized support for North Korean defectors as key tasks.
Unification Minister Kim Young-ho emphasized firm responding to North Korea’s provocations, threats, and propaganda, the ministry will make every effort to manage the inter-Korean relations situation so that people can go about their business with peace of mind while maintaining a consistent stance of being open to dialogue. To this end, the ministry will closely monitor developments in North Korea and focus on stabilizing the situation by strengthening communication with relevant agencies and private organizations to prevent tensions from escalating in the inter-Korean border area.
In addition to deepening working-level cooperation following the first trilateral meeting on North Korean human rights held in October last year, hold the International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and the International Dialogue Inviting Overseas Leaders of the Movement for the Release of Detained Pastors in April and May. Furthermore, supporting diversification of human rights cooperation with relevant countries, international organizations, and NGOs, including supporting the activities of civil society organizations in the international arena.
While expanding and developing the Global Korea Forum as a representative brand of international cooperation for reunification, the government will also continue to promote projects to build the foundation for reunification at home and abroad, such as establishing additional Unification Centers in the Gyeonggi region and the Chungcheong region after Jeolla and Gangwon in 2023~2024 to revitalize the regional reunification ecosystem.
The government will expand educational opportunities for North Korean defectors and continue efforts to expand social safety nets tailored to the growing number of elderly North Koreans.
As the North Korean Displaced Persons Act, which was amended last year, took effect in April, the legal scope of educational support has been expanded to include children of North Korean defectors, enabling children of North Korean defectors born in third countries or in Korea to receive educational support, and opportunities for North Korean defectors to become global leaders have been expanded, including the resumption of North Korean youth participation in the WEST(Work, English Study, Travel) program.
With the goal of becoming a “trusted and powerful military that is committed to its role and mission,” the Ministry of National Defense will pursue the following key tasks. The Ministry will maintain a firm military readiness posture based on the U.S.-ROK alliance and joint defense posture. To this end, government will carry out the planned joint exercises and operate the extended deterrence system of the nuclear-based U.S.-ROK alliance as normal.
MND will systematically prepare for the Freedom Shield Exercise in the first half of the year to further strengthen the alliance’s crisis management and joint defense capabilities. Next, continue to strive to maintain the momentum of defense exports and create results so that the defense industry can simultaneously drive security and the economy. In the first half of the year, the Ministry will continue to move forward with the second implementation contract for the Polish K2 tanks, and establish the ‘Intergovernmental Canadian Defense Cooperation Task Force’ to prepare the conditions for Canadian defense exports. strengthening defense network by inviting foreign delegations to major domestic events, making high-level visits to international defense exhibitions, and holding local defense forums.
The Ministry will continue to improve the service conditions and treatment of soldiers to meet the public’s expectations. To improve the working conditions of entry-level officers, continuing to raise their basic pay and allowances and secure additional single-occupancy quarters. To enhance job security by expanding the number of mid-level officers and improve the quality of life for military families, the government will prepare for the opening of autonomous public high schools for military children in 2026 in consultation with the Ministry of Education and local governments.
New active clothing for soldiers will be distributed by the second half of the year, and MND will continue to improve barracks living quarters and expand buffet-style civilian-commissioned meals.
Finally, in the context of emergency martial law, the military will focus efforts to restore public trust by focusing on stabilizing the military and rallying the troops, while remaining committed to its primary mission of protecting the lives and property of the people.
The Ministry of National Veterans Affairs will promote the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Korea as a key task to ensure that veterans’ memorials become a stepping stone for national unity, including promoting the 80th anniversary national unity commemoration project, expanding veterans’ diplomacy, spreading a culture of public participation and donations, and strengthening support for national veterans and veterans.
To this end, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which is in charge of honoring independence veterans, will lead the project to commemorate the 80th anniversary of national unity. In particular, the government and the private sector will work together to convey the message of national unity and overcoming national difficulties contained in the spirit of the independence movement, and promote commemorative projects so that the 80th anniversary of liberation can be celebrated by all Koreans across generations, classes, and regions.
Starting with the public participation event of the ‘National Debt Compensation Movement’ in Gwanghwamun Square in January, the government will hold a series of participatory events throughout the year to remind people of the meaning of the independence movement.
In addition, the Ministry will honor the sacrifices and dedication of independence heroes at the highest level by repatriating the remains of five independence heroes and operating a public-private working group to exhume the remains of Dr. Ahn Joong-geun. And, expand veterans’ diplomacy to include 22 UN participating countries, 38 UN donor countries, and countries with deep ties to the independence movement.
In particular, the Ministry will utilize local private diplomatic resources, such as overseas Koreans, to promote international veterans’ affairs projects such as the management of historical sites and veterans’ appreciation events, and strengthen solidarity through veterans’ affairs with countries where independence fighters were active on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized the need to unwaveringly safeguard Korea’s diplomacy and security for the continuation of national stability and economic prosperity, and ordered all ministries to continue to work hard to ensure that there is no gap in diplomacy and security amid the severe external environment and the rapidly changing situation with the inauguration of the new U.S. administration.
In particular, he asked ministers to brief the media once a month to explain the progress and future plans of the key ministries discussed today so that the public can accurately know their plans.
With this meeting, the government will continue to mobilize all its capabilities to firmly maintain diplomacy and security, which are the foundation of the country’s survival, so that the people can devote themselves to their work with peace of mind in the current difficult national situation.★