President Lee Jae Myung (right) and first lady Kim Hea Kyung on June 17 bid farewell to well-wishers before departing from Geneva International Airport after completing his trip for the G7 summit of the world's top seven industrial powers. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Hong Angie

President Lee Jae Myung this week will go to Turkiye (Turkey) to attend the NATO Summit, followed by a state visit to Mongolia.

National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac on July 3 told a news briefing, "President Lee from July 7-8 will attend the NATO Summit in Turkiye at the invitation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, followed by a state visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh."

"Attendance at the NATO Summit is an opportunity for us to further widen our diplomatic horizons after our participation in the G7 summit last month," Director Wi said. "The visit will help us actively pursue defense industry cooperation with NATO member states, the world's largest defense market that accounts for 55% of global defense spending."

Upon arrival in Ankara on July 7, President Lee will first hold his first in-person talks with Secretary General Rutte on stronger bilateral cooperation before attending a series of small group meetings with the leaders of Indo-Pacific countries like Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The president is also speculated to see again U.S. counterpart Donald Trump two weeks after their last meeting at the G7 summit.

President Lee will deliver a keynote speech at the NATO Defense Industry Forum and in a session under the theme "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base." He will explain the competitiveness and rapid supply capabilities of the Korean defense sector, lay the institutional framework basis for domestic companies to stably integrate into NATO supply chains, and broaden cooperation in innovative fields such as drones, artificial intelligence and space.

From July 9-11, he will pay a state visit to Mongolia, the first there by a Korean head of state in 15 years. He will hold a bilateral summit with President Khurelsukh, exchange memorandums of understanding and agreements, and hold a joint media statement.

Seoul and Ulaanbataar will announce a joint declaration on a "the golden age" of diplomatic ties that strives to open an era of bilateral exchanges involving 500,000 people by 2030, a year marking the 40th anniversary of such relations. The agenda will include practical cooperation ranging from supply chains for core minerals, food security and responses to yellow dust to health and medical care and science and technology.

President Lee will later attend a bilateral business forum to deliver a keynote speech, visit a memorial hall for Korean independence activist Lee Tae-joon (1883-1921) and meet Korean expats in Mongolia. On the final day of his state visit, the president will be the first Korean head of state to attend the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival, Mongolia's largest national event, as the guest of honor.

Another core agenda of Seoul-Ulaanbataar dialogue is diplomacy for peace on the Korean Peninsula, as Mongolia has maintained friendly ties with North Korea.

"Mongolia is an important cooperation partner who can contribute to achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula," Director Wi said. "We will work together to explore practical ways to cooperate in easing regional tensions, building trust and resuming talks with North Korea."

shong9412@korea.kr