Morning, Brussels. Angela Skujins here holding down the fort for your Wednesday newsletter.
Everyone in the Belgian capital is gearing up for a closely watched EU-South Korea Summit, which aims to boast more than just the East Asian country’s soft power of skin care, K-pop and cinematic feats. ‘Parasite’ by Bong Joon Ho, anyone?
Cultural diplomacy aside, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will represent the EU at the summit, aimed at boosting closer ties between the capitals. The meeting comes as ChinesePresident Xi Jinping finishes a two-day visit to North Korea, where he was warmly hosted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Back in the Belgian capital, EU heavyweights will be joined at this meeting of middle powers by Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung. This is a South Korean leader who has reiterated the importance of creating self-reliant security, stating that the times of peaceful coexistence are over.
He leads a country split from its neighbour to the north with a 250-kilometre border and Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) punctuated by barbed wire, machine gun turrets and roving soldiers. (This journalist was lucky enough to visit the DMZ on her honeymoon — romantic, I know — and can confirm its military prowess).
