Yoon Seok-yeol joint statement on ‘Saudi Arabia’s priority in non-interference in internal affairs under international law’, ‘Weapon contract fails’
In a joint declaration with Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman, President Yoon Seok-yeol agreed to prioritize non-interference in international law's internal affairs, prioritize improving Iran-Saudi relations, and seek a two-state solution to the spread of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The arms sales contract that Korea has been attempting appears to have failed.
The joint statement issued on the 24th, a day after the summit meeting between the two countries, stipulated ‘preservation of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs in Saudi-Iran relations’, putting the brakes on the US policy of ‘intervention in Iran’.
In the 'Future Cooperation' section, the joint statement agreed to 'prioritize international law' regarding the Israeli-Palestinian tension situation and agreed on the principle of 'one land, two states solution' that was applied to the Gaza Strip, so that the Netanyahu Israeli government will call this attack 'Gaza'. The goal of ‘taking the Earth under the jurisdiction of the Israeli government’ was put on hold.
On the other hand, regarding Korean security, President Yoon set ‘stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community’ as the basic unit and agreed to a ‘policy of nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.’
The joint statement said, “We condemned all violations of Security Council resolutions to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear and ballistic programs and arms transfers that could undermine the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community,” and added, “Both sides pledge to maintain international peace.” It emphasized the importance of supporting the efforts of the international community to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that threaten and undermine security, showing a gap with the 'strategy of annihilation of the North Korean regime relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella'.
The joint statement that President Yoon agreed with the Saudi Crown Prince directly contradicts President Yoon’s existing policy of ‘denuclearization of North Korea.’
Immediately after the summit with President Yoon, Crown Prince Bin Salman said, "Saudi Arabia will continue to be Korea's most reliable partner and crude oil exporter that meets Korea's demand for crude oil," and that Korea will put 'Saudi Arabia first' in its future crude oil import route 40 years ago. The contract was restored.
The joint statement is ‘Ⅳ.’ in the high-level security field. Under the ‘Strengthening Cooperation in National Defense, Defense Industry, and Counter-Terrorism’ section, “In the field of national defense and security, both sides are willing to promote cooperation and coordination in the field of national defense and defense in a way that meets the common interests of both countries and contributes to regional and international security and the establishment of peace.” expressed,” putting the brakes on Korea’s ‘attempt to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia’ based on the relationship of ‘weapons sales and weapons imports to Israel.’
In the field of security, the joint statement said, “17. “The two sides shared the importance of strengthening their security cooperation and coordination on issues of common interest to both countries, including countering all forms of crime and promoting cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism,” the statement said. It was agreed to limit the security cooperation system to ‘non-state terrorism’.
Regarding the summit meeting between the two countries on the 22nd, First Deputy Minister of National Security Kim Tae-hyo said, “Discussions on large-scale defense industry cooperation with Saudi Arabia in various fields such as anti-aircraft defense systems and firepower weapons are in the final stages.” He added, “The defense industry is a new blue field in cooperation with Saudi Arabia.” It is emerging as an ocean.
Korean media all said that the medium-range surface-to-air interceptor 'Cheongung-2' is likely to be used, and the price of one interceptor missile is about 1.5 billion won, which is one-third of the US Patriot (PAC-3) missile of the same performance (about 4.8 billion won). reported.
The conglomerates that accompanied President Yoon to the Saudi summit, including Samsung, Hyundai, and LG, have established and are operating research institutes and corporate branches in Israel.
Samsung Electronics is a 100%-owned Benelux holding company that operates three corporations in Israel: Samsung Electronics Israel, Samsung Semiconductor Israel R&D Center, and Core Photonics, and Samsung Bioepis operates a local corporation, Samsung Bioepis IL.
Hyundai Motor Company established Cradle Tel Aviv and has continued to conduct mergers and acquisitions and equity investments in startup companies in Israel.
LG Group has had a sales office in Tel Aviv since 2010 and acquired Cybellum, an Israeli automotive cybersecurity company, in 2021 and has its headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The Export-Import Bank of Korea announced on the 24th that Korea's direct investment in Israel over the past 10 years (2014 to 2023) is worth $257 million (about 347.6 billion won).
Investment in Israel, which has recently expanded rapidly, has expanded from manufacturing and information and communications industries to finance and insurance, science and technology, construction, and arts and sports.
Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in said that based on UN customs data on May 21, 2021, Korea's arms exports to Israel over the six years from 2015 to 2020 were $28.85 million (KRW 32.6 billion), a 22% increase compared to the previous six years, and Moon Jae-in It was revealed that the government's (2017-2020) arms exports to Israel amounted to $23.44 million (26.7 billion won), significantly higher than the Park Geun-hye administration's (2013-2016) arms exports ($10.19 million).
Korea's weapons exports to Israel include projectile weapons such as bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles, and ammunition, accounting for 53.7% of total weapons exports.
On the 23rd, former U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that the Israeli military “implement a strategy that complies with international law, including laws aimed at preventing the death or suffering of civilians to the fullest extent possible,” and added, “We support Israel while at the same time supporting Israel against Hamas.” We need to be clear about how to view the fight. “Thousands of Palestinians have already died in bombings in the Gaza Strip, many of them children,” he said on the 23rd.
Former President Obama (Democratic Party) said on his blog that day, "I support Israel in the war," and pointed out Israel's decision to cut off water, food, and electricity in the Gaza Strip and the hundreds of thousands of refugees and numerous civilian casualties, including children, and said, "The whole world is supporting this region." We are closely watching what is happening. “It will further harden generations of Palestinian attitudes, undermine global support for Israel, play Israel into the hands of its enemies, and undermine long-term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.” It was revealed that it was a violation of international law, and this was reported by the Washington Post that day.