By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, on June 2 and agreed on the need to thoroughly implement sanctions against North Korea to block its nuclear and missile development in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

According the presidential office, the two leaders discussed the issue during a dinner meeting at the Yongsan presidential office.

The two leaders plan to cooperate closely on the international diplomatic stage, including Ethiopia's support for South Korea's activities on the UN Security Council from this year to next year.

During the meeting, Yoon welcomed Prime Minister Abiy back to South Korea after a five-year absence and expressed gratitude for Ethiopia's dispatch of its troops in the June 25 war before the two countries established diplomatic relations.

“We are grateful for Ethiopia's army deployment to defend the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon said, adding that “our government and people will never forget Ethiopia's dedication and sacrifice,” according to the presidential office.

Abiy praised South Korea for hosting the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit to strengthen cooperation with Africa. He suggested that the two countries use this opportunity to work together to further expand their cooperation.

The two leaders noted that the two countries have been accelating development cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963, and the signing of the Trade Facilitation Framework in October last year is expected to further expand trade.

“I hope that more Korean companies can enter Ethiopia and contribute to mutually beneficial economic development,” Yoon said, asking for the Ethiopian government's interest and support.

“Korea has contributed to the expansion of Ethiopia's infrastructure, including power grids and roads, and has supported the development of human resources in education and science, contributing to the country's economic and social development,” Prime Minister Abiy said, adding that he hoped bilateral cooperation would expand to various fields, including mineral development and the defense industry.

“I hope that the renewed bilateral ‘EDCF Framework Agreement’ will lead to the discovery of new customized development projects that contribute to Ethiopia's development,” Yoon said.