Avoid conflict escalation in Korean peninsula, Vietnam urges

At a meeting in Hanoi with visiting South Korean counterpart Park Jin, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said Vietnam was always attentive to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

He said Vietnam hopes that relevant parties will maintain composure, avoid conflict escalation and engage in dialogue, taking into account each other’s interests as well as the interests of the region and the world.

A foreign ministry press release also cited Son as saying that Vietnam was willing to contribute to the process of boosting dialogue, cooperation and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions have run high on the Korean Peninsula of late after North Korea conducted missile launches as a response to joint drills by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.

The U.S. and some of its allies condemned the move as provocative and destabilizing, while North Korea said the launches were planned and a legitimate defense measure against military threats from Washington.

Also at the meeting, Son requested that South Korea continues to support and share the mutual vision of maintaining security, safety and maritime freedom in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea.

Park said he supported the maintenance of legal order and resolution of conflicts through peaceful methods in accordance with international law.

Son suggested that both countries increase their bilateral trade turnover to $100 billion in 2023 and $150 billion in 2030.

Park said he hoped that Vietnam would continue to provide opportunities for South Korean businesses in the country so that supply chains could be stabilized in the post-Covid scenario.

South Korea is Vietnam’s third largest commercial partner. Last year, the two countries’ bilateral trade turnover reached $78 billion, accounting for 11.6% of Vietnam’s trade turnover. South Korea is also Vietnam’s largest FDI partner, with over 9,300 projects worth a total of around $80 billion.