NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up a five-day visit to East Asia on Thursday (2 November 2017) with a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Secretary General toured the UN Command in Panmunjom, where he was briefed on the North Korea crisis and met South Korean, US and UN personnel.
Later that day, the Secretary General held talks with President Moon Jae-in. Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed a new partnership plan between NATO and the Republic of Korea, paving the way for cooperation on non-proliferation, cyber defence and counter-terrorism. The two leaders also agreed on the need for pressure on the North Korean regime, including with robust sanctions and strong political and diplomatic efforts.
The Secretary General reiterated this message in discussions with security experts at the ASAN Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. In a press point at the Institute, Mr. Stoltenberg underlined that global challenges demand global solutions. Calling the Republic of Korea a “valued partner”, the Secretary General stressed that NATO is committed to working with its partners to build and preserve international peace.