Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia is strategically positioned to act as a bridge for regional dialogue aimed at establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to the country's former prime minister, Gombojav Zandanshatar. He emphasized Mongolia's unique diplomatic stance due to its friendly relations with both Koreas and its status as a nuclear-weapon-free nation with a transparent foreign policy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Zandanshatar, in a recent interview, explained that Mongolia's diplomatic role is not to serve as a major-power mediator or to enforce outcomes, but rather to facilitate quiet diplomacy. He described Mongolia as a connector that helps maintain communication channels, build confidence, and support practical cooperation when opportunities arise. This approach is embodied by the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, a regional platform for security and peace cooperation in Northeast Asia, established in 2014.
The former prime minister underscored that the primary aim is not necessarily to achieve dramatic breakthroughs but to keep conversations ongoing, especially when political climates become challenging. Earlier this month, the importance of such dialogue was highlighted during a forum in the Mongolian capital, attended by South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young. At the event, Chung proposed a four-way dialogue involving the two Koreas, the United States, and China, with the potential to expand to include Mongolia due to its strategic geographic position.
Zandanshatar also stressed the need for comprehensive peace solutions that extend beyond security arrangements to include energy, critical minerals, supply chains, climate cooperation, technology, and people-to-people ties. He stated that lasting peace is rooted in shared interests, which in turn rebuild trust over time, and highlighted people as the most enduring factor in establishing trust.
With a prominent political career, Zandanshatar has held various high-ranking roles, including serving as Mongolia's 34th prime minister and remaining active internationally through forums like the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue. He envisions Mongolia's future as one where the nation is recognized not just for its natural resources but also for its contributions to sustainable development and international cooperation.
Currently in South Korea, Zandanshatar is scheduled to participate in the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, a global event focused on enhancing peacebuilding efforts. He is set to join former leaders such as Ban Ki-moon, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Yukio Hatoyama in discussing the forum's theme, "Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World."