President Lee Jae Myung and the first lady greet Han Byung-do, acting leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (far right, back to camera), and other well-wishers at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on Tuesday before departing for the NATO summit and a state visit to Mongolia. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung and the first lady greet Han Byung-do, acting leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (far right, back to camera), and other well-wishers at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on Tuesday before departing for the NATO summit and a state visit to Mongolia. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung and the first lady departed Tuesday from Seoul Airport in Seongnam to attend the NATO summit.

Lee will spend one night in Turkey for the NATO summit before traveling to Mongolia for a two-night, three-day state visit, with his return scheduled for Friday.

The trip comes roughly 20 days after Lee wrapped up his G7 tour last month. Through this visit, Lee aims to lay the groundwork for building a defense supply chain with NATO allies — a bloc that represents the world's largest defense market and accounts for 55 percent of global defense spending.

By attending the NATO defense industry forum and personally showcasing K-defense capabilities and rapid procurement, Lee also intends to accelerate South Korea's push to join the ranks of the world's top four defense exporters.

Lee will then make a state visit to Mongolia — the fastest such visit within the first year of any South Korean administration — where he plans to hold wide-ranging discussions on critical minerals cooperation.

As his first stop, Lee is set to arrive in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday and meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The two have met twice before. Lee plans to review the current state of South Korea-NATO relations and hold in-depth talks on strengthening future cooperation.

Lee will then join a small-group meeting with representatives from Indo-Pacific partner nations, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The centerpiece of the trip is the NATO Defense Industry Forum, the summit's flagship event, which is expected to draw nearly 1,000 participants.

At the forum, Lee will deliver a keynote address in a session themed "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base" and take part in a panel discussion.

Wi Sung-lac, chief of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office, said at an earlier briefing that the visit would "lay the groundwork for entering the world's largest NATO defense market and building a solid defense supply chain." He added that it would create a foundation for South Korean military and companies to join NATO's innovation networks in areas such as drones and space, acquire core technologies for future warfare and pursue joint development.

Lee may also attend an official welcome dinner that evening hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife.

On Wednesday, the final day of the summit, Lee is expected to hold bilateral talks with various European and other participating nations to promote K-defense exports.

Lee will leave Ankara on Wednesday night and fly to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Thursday. Arriving early Thursday morning local time, he will immediately begin his state visit schedule.

Mongolia has reportedly been requesting a presidential visit since Lee took office. The last South Korean head of state to make a state visit to Mongolia was President Lee Myung-bak in 2011, making this the first such visit in 15 years.

After arriving, Lee will attend an official welcoming ceremony at the Mongolian government building and hold a summit with President Khurelsukh.

The two leaders will then announce a joint declaration on a "Golden Era of Korea-Mongolia Relations" through an agreement and memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and a joint press statement.

Lee will follow that with a keynote address at the Korea-Mongolia Business Forum, where government and business representatives from both countries will gather to discuss mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

On Friday, Lee will visit the memorial hall of independence activist Yi Tae-jun before holding a luncheon with Korean residents in Mongolia.

He will then meet separately with Mongolian National Assembly Speaker Byambatsogt and Prime Minister Oyunerdene, followed by a state dinner hosted by the president.

The trip will conclude Saturday when Lee joins President Khurelsukh as a guest of honor at the opening ceremony of Naadam, Mongolia's largest national festival.

Wi said the two sides plan to "strengthen trade and supply chain cooperation based on the economic complementarity of the two countries, and hold wide-ranging discussions on cooperation in areas that will bring tangible benefits to both peoples — including critical minerals, food security, dust storm response, and health and science and technology." He described Mongolia as "a resource-rich country with abundant critical minerals and, since its transition to democracy and a market economy, an important economic cooperation partner that has expanded cooperation with South Korea across a wide range of fields."

Of particular note, Mongolia was the second country to establish diplomatic ties with North Korea after the Soviet Union and maintains friendly relations with Pyongyang. Lee plans to use the visit as an opportunity to explore ways to create conditions for resuming dialogue with North Korea.


sang@heraldcorp.com
moone@heraldcorp.com