Global leaders, including Korean President Park Geun-hye, pose for a group photo while attending the G20 Summit held in Hangzhou, China from Sept. 4 to 5.

After attending the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, President Park Geun-hye arrived in Vientiane, Laos, on Sept. 6, to attend ASEAN-related summits and make an official visit to the country.

President Park attended back-to-back summits in Vientiane, Laos for two days Sept. 7-8 — the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the ASEAN+3 Summit and the East Asia Summit. On Sept. 9, she began an official visit to Laos.

At the 19th ASEAN+3 Summit, President Park engaged in discussions on what has been achieved by cooperation at the ASEAN+3 level over the past year and on working together in the future. She also stressed the need for continued progress in trilateral cooperation among Korea, Japan and China.

President Park began by noting that ASEAN+3 cooperation, which started in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, has constantly evolved into a consultative forum spearheading regional cooperation while laying out a future vision for the establishment of an East Asian Community. She went on to say that ASEAN+3 cooperation should now contribute to the practical completion of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and, taking it a step further, take up a greater role as a pioneer in crystallizing the idea of the East Asian Community.

In addition, President Park said that sustained development of the mechanism for Korea-China-Japan cooperation was important in ensuring that regional cooperation in East Asia would lead to integration by effectively realizing the objectives for ASEAN+3 cooperation. The president expressed the hope that cooperation among Korea, China and Japan, which was restored last year, would be pursued in a steady manner this year, thereby resulting in further deepening the cooperation and partnership between ASEAN and the three countries.

Park’s Summit With U.S. President

President Park held a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on Sept. 6 and agreed to maintain a deterrent against North Korea through strengthened joint defense capabilities, including the installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). At a joint news conference following the summit, President Park said, “Korea and the United States agreed to strengthen efforts to tightly close loopholes in sanctions against North Korea.” 

Park warned that the continuing of provocations like the firing of Rodong missiles on Sept. 5 will lead to the country’s self-destruction. Considering that China's role is important in effectively implementing sanctions against the North and resolving its nuclear issue, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to continue communication with China through various channels, Park said.

President Obama said the THAAD system is designed to cope with North Korea’s threats, and North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose threats not only to South Korea, but also Japan, other allies in the region, and the United States as well. It is the first time President Obama officially touched upon the THAAD issue.