Kuala lumpur: South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, has emphasized the nation’s commitment to work more closely with Southeast Asian countries and the broader international community to tackle the increasing issue of transnational crimes, particularly online scams.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho made this announcement during the East Asia Summit (EAS), a regional meeting that includes the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, and other countries. The summit took place on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, serving as a segment of the annual ASEAN summit and related gatherings.
In place of President Lee Jae Myung, who had returned to South Korea to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event in Gyeongju, Cho represented South Korea at the EAS. He conveyed that South Korea intends to enhance its coordination with ASEANAPOL, the regional Interpol body in Southeast Asia, and work closely with EAS members and the international community to eliminate such crimes.
The assembly of states voiced concerns regarding the escalating threats from online scams and other cybercrimes, highlighting the necessity for combined efforts at a regional level. Additionally, Cho outlined South Korea’s peace initiatives aimed at North Korea, which focus on resuming exchanges and improving relations with Pyongyang, and sought support from EAS members for these efforts.