Swedish ambassador to S. Korea reaffirms commitment toward denuclearization on Korean Peninsula

주한스웨덴대사 "한반도 비핵화 위해 북한 대화로 복귀할 수 있도록 최선 다할 것"

Sweden is a country that plays a very unique role in securing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji sat down with the Swedish ambassador to South Korea, to talk about NATO and Sweden's commitment to security.

Sweden has been a consistent contributor to maintaining security on the Korean Peninsula, with its unique abilities and knowledge about the region.
During the Korean War, it supported South Korea by setting up field hospitals.
Right now, it's a member of the NNSC or the Neutral Nation's Supervisory Commission in Panmunjeom.
It has its soldiers there to monitor whether the armistice is being implemented in the right way.
At the same time, Sweden has exceptionally close relations with North Korea, as Stockholm has had diplomatic ties with Pyongyang since the early 1970s.
While showing concerns about the recent security situation regarding North Korea, the Swedish ambassador to South Korea told Arirang News that Sweden will continue to work toward having North Korea return to talks.

"So we will do everything that we can, in order to offer confidence-building measures and also steps towards dialogue when that's possible. Of course the situation right now including the latest ICBM launch by North Korea is very very worrying, and we condemn that."

He also added that it's incredibly important for the North to immediately take steps to dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
As for the Swedish diplomats that had to leave Pyongyang because of the regime's COVID-19 restrictions, he said Sweden is willing to return to Pyongyang quickly when it opens up again, to continue the diplomatic role that they would like to play on the Peninsula.
The ambassador also highlighted that South Korea and Sweden can cooperate in various fields other than security, including the private sector, such as battery production for electric vehicles and K-pop.

"I think when it comes to Sweden and South Korea, we are likeminded countries, we are democracies, we believe in open trade, we have confidence in each other, and that's what make this type of collaboration so important."

On Sweden's NATO membership ratification, noting that Sweden plays an important role when it comes to security around the Baltic Sea, he stressed that Stockholm has a lot to offer to NATO, in areas such as cyber security.

"We of course have much to offer to NATO as well. So Sweden will be more secure with NATO, and NATO will be stronger with Sweden as a member."

He also said he's very optimistic and confident that Sweden will become a full member by the NATO summit scheduled for July.
Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.


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2023-03-29, 21:00 (KST)