Keynote Address by H.E. Cho Hyun
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
KF-USSC IP4 Plus Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue
Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Dr. Michael Green, CEO of the United States Studies Centre,
Mr. Ghee-whan Kim, President of the Korea Foundation,
Distinguished speakers and guests,

It is an honor to address the inaugural KF–USSC IP4 Plus Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue. I thank our co-hosts — the Korea Foundation and the United States Studies Centre — for convening this important gathering at a pivotal moment for the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and indeed the world.

Eighty years have passed since the Second World War. Yet today, we see tensions that recall the decades leading up to it.
Armed conflicts rage in Europe and the Middle East.
Flashpoints remain in South and Southeast Asia.
Geopolitical tensions continue to simmer in East Asia.

The need for peace has never been greater.

This time, however, nations are determined to avoid the mistakes of the past. We are choosing engagement over retaliation, as well as building partnerships – as Korea and the United States are doing through new economic deals.

We also recognize what our predecessors overlooked: instability in one region never stays contained. It reverberates across borders in profound and sometimes unpredictable ways. The security of the Indo-Pacific is now closely linked with that of the Euro-Atlantic.

That is why we share a collective duty to prevent escalation and preserve peace together through cooperation.

For Korea, this responsibility begins at home.

President Lee Jae Myung's message is clear : "However high the cost, preserving peace is better than war."

The new Korean government has set out a clear approach that the Korean Peninsula must not become the spark of a wider conflagration.

We will continue to pursue de-escalation including through dialogue and diplomacy. In parallel, we will remain vigilant against North Korea's growing nuclear and missile capabilities and its deepening military ties with Russia.

In this context, President Lee's recent visits to Japan and the United States were notable milestones. The leaders agreed to work together to build peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, strengthen the combined Korea-US defense posture, and develop future-oriented cooperation with Japan.
The leaders also committed to bolstering trilateral Korea-US-Japan collaboration, reinforcing the foundations for regional security.
Together, these steps help to solidify the structures that uphold peace and collaboration in our neighborhood.

Our vision, however, extends beyond the Peninsula.

The future of global peace will depend on how the Indo-Pacific works in concert with NATO, the IP4, and the broader European community.

Building on this momentum, Korea is committed to deepening ties with partners across the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Accordingly, the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada were among the first leaders President Lee met at the outset of his term.

At the same time, our engagement with Europe and NATO will continue to grow stronger, more resilient, and forward-looking, reflecting our shared commitment to regional and global stability.

The challenges before us transcend geography. They range from military aggression to maritime insecurity, from securing supply chains to defending international norms.

No nation can shoulder these burdens alone.
Cooperation across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is not simply desirable – it is essential.

Distinguished Guests,

Jean Monnet once said, "Make men work together, show them that beyond their differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest."

In the same spirit, we will not preclude, much less target, any country in our pursuit of peace and stability in Notheast Asia and beyond. Still, when confronted with actions that contravene international law, we should stand in unison.

To this end, I am confident that today's discussions will foster partnerships, inspire insights, and fortify the links that sustain our peace and prosperity.

I wish you all a productive and successful Dialogue. Thank you.

/END/