Presidential Office: "No Difference in Views Between South Korea and U.S. Regarding NATO Cooperation"

Wi Sung-lac, Director of the National Security Office, stated on July 3 that there is no significant difference in perception between South Korea and the United States regarding the establishment of cooperative relations with European countries within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

During a briefing held at the Presidential Office today (July 3), Director Wi addressed the question of whether the U.S. might prefer that the four Indo-Pacific partners (IP4: South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) not attend the summit, given the seemingly strained relationship between President Donald Trump and NATO, after outlining President Lee Jae-myung's schedule for the summit.

Director Wi said, "It is true that there are slightly different positions between the U.S. and NATO, but the U.S. does not have a different view from ours regarding overall cooperation with NATO."

He further stated, "If there are points where the positions of the U.S. and NATO differ, we will manage the relationship by engaging with the U.S. on those specific issues at a bilateral level," adding, "We will build necessary relationships with the other countries (NATO member states in Europe) through defense industry cooperation."

He added, "This is also consistent with our diplomatic strategy of diversification."

When asked about military support for Ukraine in connection with defense cooperation with NATO, he said, "We are responding to this issue according to our principles," and added, "We are not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine."

"However, we are providing necessary support, and we are currently reviewing such support," he said.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.