Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo (from left), President Lee Jae Myung, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic on June 10 pose for a group photo after signing a digital trade agreement at the council's headquarters in Brussels. (Council's official Facebook page)

By Charles Audouin

President Lee Jae Myung on June 10 held talks with the leaders of the European Union (EU) and Belgium to reaffirm their commitment for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and boost cooperation in a range of economic and security issues.

That afternoon, President Lee spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the council's headquarters in Brussels.

In a joint statement released after their meeting, they expressed "grave concern" over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the peninsula under United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also stressed that the North will never be accepted as a country with nuclear weapons.

Seoul and the EU also agreed to broaden cooperation in security and economy, pledging to hold negotiations to conclude a security of information agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information. They also signed a digital trade agreement -- Korea's second following its first with Singapore -- to boost their digital partnership.

Both sides also concluded an accord on the transfer of passenger name record data to prevent transnational crime.

"The legal framework has been established for Korean customs authorities to access passenger reservation data from EU-registered airlines," President Lee said. "We expect this to further raise cooperation in preventing transnational crimes such as terrorism and drug trafficking."

Following the summit, President Lee wrote on his Facebook page, "This summit will serve as an important milestone in taking to the next level ties between Korea and the EU, which possesses boundless potential for cooperation across many fields," adding, "I will strive to expand cooperation with the EU and ensure that what we discussed leads to tangible outcomes."

President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on June 10 shake hands after their summit at the latter's official residence in Brussels. (President Lee's official Facebook page)

Earlier that day, the president attended a summit with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on improving bilateral relations. This year marks the 125th anniversary of bilateral ties.

Both leaders agreed to expand business investment and cooperation, particularly in battery materials and energy, while supporting the expansion of collaboration to strategic industries such as semiconductors.

They also laid the groundwork for higher cooperation between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and promotion of expansion into each other's markets by signing a memorandum of understanding on development of SMEs and startups.

President Lee also stressed the importance of bilateral research cooperation, saying, "Around 120 Korean researchers work alongside their Belgian counterparts in nanotechnology and semiconductors at IMEC, a world-renowned semiconductor institute in Belgium."

After concluding his schedule in Belgium, he flew to Italy, the next stop on his European tour.

caudouin@korea.kr