South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to attend a series of summits in Indonesia and India this week, where he plans to urge world leaders to take action against North Korea’s illicit activities and nuclear threats. During the meetings, Yoon aims to emphasize the importance of faithfully enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea to block the country’s funding of its weapons programs. South Korean officials believe that the North’s weapons development is increasingly financed through cyber hacking, banned item exports, and the use of North Korean guest workers remaining in China and Russia.
Yoon plans to utilize the upcoming ASEAN-related Summits and the G20 Summit to rally international support for addressing North Korea’s missile provocations and nuclear threats. He believes that by implementing the current UN Security Council sanctions, the international community can significantly hinder North Korea’s financial means for weapon development. Illicit activities such as stealing cryptocurrency, dispatching workers overseas, and facilitating illegal maritime transshipments are seen as major funding sources for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
North Korea’s advancing nuclear arsenal poses a major security concern not just for South Korea but also for the United States and Japan. The country’s long-range missiles are capable of targeting the mainland U.S., while its shorter-range missiles threaten South Korea and Japan, both key allies of the U.S. In a trilateral summit in August, President Yoon, President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation to combat North Korean cyber threats and share real-time missile warning data. However, North Korea reacted angrily, accusing the leaders of plotting nuclear war provocations.
Yoon highlighted that North Korea is currently experiencing its worst economic condition since Kim Jong Un took power in late 2011. The regime’s focus on nuclear and missile capabilities has resulted in worsening hardships for North Korean citizens and a negative growth in the economy. North Korea has been seeking cooperation with China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council who have previously impeded efforts to tighten sanctions on the country. Yoon believes that China, as the main trading partner of North Korea, holds considerable leverage over the country and should play an active role in denuclearizing North Korea.
The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear capability remains uncertain, although experts agree that Kim Jong Un is unlikely to voluntarily abandon the program. Instead, North Korea aims to use its enlarged nuclear arsenal as leverage to secure sanctions relief. Recent missile tests by North Korea simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed the occupation of South Korean territory. Yoon stressed the need for the international community to demonstrate a stronger determination to halt North Korea’s nuclear program.
During his visit to Jakarta, Yoon will participate in various summits, including the South Korea-ASEAN summit, the ASEAN Plus Three summit, and the East Asia Summit. The South Korean president sees the G20 summit as an opportunity for his country to lead global cooperation in resolving pressing challenges, such as climate change. South Korea aims to expand its contributions to climate-vulnerable countries and strengthen cooperation with the international community in transitioning to clean energy.
President Yoon’s efforts to garner international support for addressing North Korea’s illicit activities and nuclear threats reflect the urgency of stabilizing the region and curbing the regime’s weapons development. By urging faithful enforcement of UN sanctions and highlighting the negative consequences of North Korea’s nuclear program, Yoon hopes to foster a unified global response and help ensure regional security.
