South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin was received yesterday by Italian President Sergio Mattarella as part of the last leg of his European tour. During their meeting, the head of diplomacy of the country of Morning Light expressed his gratitude to Italy for deploying medical units during the Korean War. Ahead of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations next year, the two men also stressed the importance of strategic and close ties between their countries.
On this occasion, Park also shared Seoul’s desire to continue its cooperation with the G7 countries, of which Rome will hold the presidency in 2024.
Regarding Pyongyang, the South Korean minister addressed the need for a resolute international response and its support in the face of North Korean provocations. In response, the Italian president hailed Yoon Suk-yeol’s ambitious policy aimed at the complete denuclearization of North Korea, calling it far-sighted.
Earlier, Park paid an official visit to the Holy See to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and the Vatican. He was welcomed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Paul Gallagher, who are respectively Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy See.
To mark this special event, the South Korean Embassy in the Vatican is preparing a series of events, including the installation of a statue of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean to be ordained a priest, outside the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica. A symposium is also planned to share the results of research on the history of Seoul-Vatican relations.
This article is originally published on world.kbs.co.kr
