UK and South Korean leaders promise closer ties on trade, security and defense

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in committed to increasing links on across trade, security and defense in a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit meeting today, Downing Street said.

South Korea is not a member of the Group of Seven but is one of several nations invited to this year's summit, in Cornwall, England, as a guest.

“The two leaders set out their commitment to increasing UK-South Korea links across trade, security and defence, as the UK strengthens its ties with the Indo-Pacific region," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“The PM reiterated the UK’s full support for Seoul’s position on the situation in the Korean Peninsula and they discussed other foreign policy issues."

The two leaders agreed on the importance of increasing girls' access to education around the world, the spokesperson said. 

“They also discussed the importance of driving forward action on addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity ahead of COP26 in November, by moving away from coal and working together on a new green industrial revolution.” 

The leaders of the world's most heavily industrialized nations are under pressure to make real commitments to address the climate crisis ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year.