Philippines, South Korea upgrade ties to strategic partnership

As he met with Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of the Philippines, for talks, Ferdinand Marcos announced on Monday ( October 7 ) that his country and South Korea have strengthened their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

The two leaders also signed memorandum of understanding ( MOU) agreements on coast guard cooperation and nuclear energy, as well as discussing the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.

With South Korea participating in the Spanish military’s modernization program, Yoon promised to improve their security partnership.

Yoon said the two leaders agreed to preserve an global rules-based order, including those relating to the safety of navigation in the South China Sea. They also said they agreed that the international community do not condone North Korea’s nuclear program or what he termed “reckless actions.”

Yoon may travel to Singapore on October 8 through Laos the day before taking the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and several other Asian countries at the local conference.