00:00Many projects were coordinated by the Philippines and South Korea
00:05in the visit of their President to the country.
00:08Among them are infrastructure, tourism, and education
00:13in the possible revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
00:18led by Ivan Mayrena.
00:20I shall attempt a greeting in Korean.
00:23You're Ruben, and I'm Hashim Nika.
00:26President Bongbong Marcos greeted Korean President Yun Suk-yool
00:31who was in the country for a state visit
00:32and the Korean business leader in the Philippines.
00:35He couldn't help but mention
00:36the Filipinos' commitment to K-dramas,
00:39their love for K-pop idols,
00:41and their love for Korean food
00:43such as samgyupsal and kimchi.
00:45The Korean President supported the connection between the Philippines and Korea
00:48which has been in diplomatic relations for more than 7 decades.
00:51In fact, 1 million Koreans visited the country in 2023
00:55and there are already 100,000 Koreans living in the Philippines.
00:58But the connection was even deeper
01:00due to the strengthening of the strategic partnership of the two countries
01:03discussed in Malacanang.
01:05There was also an agreement
01:07to study the possible revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
01:10or the development of nuclear energy in the country.
01:12This will carry out a thorough feasibility study
01:15to continue progress on the BNPP rehabilitation
01:19which we envision to contribute to energy security in the country.
01:23There is no expense in the feasibility study that will be conducted in January 2025.
01:28And based on the study,
01:29in 2032, the first nuclear power plant is planned to be operated in the country.
01:33The Korean company also agreed
01:36on the roads around Laguna Lake
01:38and the bridges that connect Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Islands.
01:42I believe that we can see a greater contribution of Korean businesses
01:46to the expansion of the infrastructure in the Philippines
01:49including roads and bridges.
01:51South Korea plans to buy nickel and other minerals in the Philippines
01:55which are important in a country with high-tech industries and advanced electronics.
01:59But perhaps one of the most important agreements
02:02is the one on maritime cooperation
02:04as the role of South Korea in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
02:09If the Philippines is facing China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea,
02:13South Korea is facing North Korea's nuclear weapons.
02:17We must work together to achieve prosperity for our peoples
02:22and to promote a rules-based order governed by international law
02:27including the 1982 UNCLOS and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award.
02:35President Marcos and I reaffirmed that the international community
02:39will never condone North Korea's nuclear programs
02:43and its reckless provocations
02:45as well as its illegitimate military cooperation with Russia.
02:49For GMA Integrated News, Ivan Mejrina speaking, 24 hours.
03:04For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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