[Unofficial Translation]

President Joko Widodo,

Excellencies,

It is a pleasure to attend the East Asia Summit again for the second year in a row.

I want to thank President Joko Widodo for demonstrating outstanding leadership in preparing for today’s Summit.

Your Excellencies,

On the basis of its firm support for ASEAN Centrality, the Republic of Korea is working closely with ASEAN for the Indo-Pacific region’s freedom, peace and prosperity.

The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Republic of Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy are aimed at achieving the exact same goal.

Both the Republic of Korea and ASEAN are pursuing solidarity to establish a rules-based order under the principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity.

Urgent challenges stand before us at regional and global levels.

One of them is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.

About 70 years ago, the Republic of Korea also faced an existential threat posed by illegal aggression. Thanks to the United Nations and the international community fighting together with us, we were able to defend our freedom and achieve prosperity.

After attending the NATO Summit in July, I made a trip to Kyiv. There, I announced the “Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative” that includes humanitarian assistance and support for security and reconstruction.

The Republic of Korea will faithfully implement this Initiative as promised. We will contribute responsibly to Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts going forward.

One principle of international law is that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated under any circumstance.

In order for the Indo-Pacific region to continue to prosper with ASEAN serving as the center for growth, a rules-based maritime order must be established in the South China Sea, the region’s key maritime transportation route.

We hope that the Code of Conduct in South China Sea currently being negotiated will be established in a manner that ensures each country’s legitimate rights while respecting the principles of international law.

The Republic of Korea will expand maritime security cooperation with ASEAN while defending the freedom of sea and overflight in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The ongoing violence in Myanmar and the resulting humanitarian crisis are hindering ASEAN’s unity and advancement.

I support ASEAN’s solution for ending the violence through inclusive dialogue. I hope that the people of Myanmar can realize their aspirations for freedom and democracy as soon as possible.

The Republic of Korea will actively provide humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar.

Your Excellencies,

North Korea’s nuclear and missile development is a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a direct challenge to world peace.

It is an existential threat that can target and strike all of the countries attending today’s summit.

We must clearly show that the international community’s determination to stop North Korea’s nuclear development is much stronger than the North’s will to pursue it.

North Korea’s illegal development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has placed it under the strictest and most comprehensive U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Therefore, all U.N. member states must comply with these Security Council sanctions. The permanent Security Council members have even greater responsibility as the parties that adopted the relevant resolutions.

We must actively prevent North Korea from stealing cryptocurrency, dispatching workers overseas, conducting maritime transshipments and other illegal acts, which are the main funding sources for its nuclear and missile development.

We must not overlook the horrible human rights situation of the people of North Korea, whose dictatorial regime mobilizes them as a means of holding onto power.

North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and its human rights situation are indistinguishable issues.

Your Excellencies,

The world’s growth and prosperity will rely on the Indo-Pacific region going forward.

This is why the countries participating in the East Asia Summit must stand in solidarity and work together with each other and with the international community.

Your Excellencies,

The Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan opened a new chapter in trilateral cooperation during our summit at Camp David last month.

The driving force that unites the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan is a sense of responsibility for freedom, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Republic of Korea will contribute responsibly to the establishment of a rules-based international order built upon universal values.

We will further strengthen our contributions to the region’s inclusive and sustainable growth.

In the process, I promise to closely stand in solidarity and work together with all Indo-Pacific countries, including ASEAN.

Thank you.