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KONTAN.CO.ID – SEOUL. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will travel to London, New York and Canada next week on his first trip to those countries, mainly to attend the funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and visit the United Nations General Assembly.

Yoon is due to leave on Sept. 18 for London to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, who died aged 96 on Thursday, national security adviser Kim Sung-han told reporters.

The decision to attend the September 19 funeral reflects the historical importance of bilateral relations between South Korea and Britain, the achievements of Queen Elizabeth and the affection the King has shown to South Korea since his visit in 1999, Kim said.

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Yoon will then travel to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver the keynote address on September 20, Kim said.

Yoon will also visit Canada on his last week-long trip, which ends on September 24, as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, he added.

“The purpose of this trip is to strengthen solidarity with partner countries that share fundamental values ​​and broaden the bases of economic diplomacy,” Kim said at a press briefing.

Yoon’s speech at the United Nations will aim to show South Korea’s role as a “world leading state that contributes to solving international problems and building a world order based on universal values”, he said. declared.

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Yoon will also push for the denuclearization of North Korea in his speech, while seeking to hold bilateral summits with key countries including the United States and Japan on the sidelines of the meeting, Kim added.

Yoon’s government last week offered to hold talks with North Korea on reuniting families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, in the first direct opening despite strained cross-border relations.

Pyongyang has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests this year, and Seoul officials said late last month they had completed preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.

Yoon said he had a bold plan to provide economic aid in exchange for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament, but pledged to respond firmly to his provocations.