South Korea Forms Diplomatic Relations With Niue

South Korea's president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol attends a ceremony of disbanding his presidential election camp at the National Assembly Library in Seoul, South Korea, on March 10, 2022. Song Kyung-seok/Pool via Reuters

The South Korean government has established formal diplomatic relations with Niue, the lone Pacific island nation with which South Korea didn’t have diplomatic ties.

Foreign Minister Park Jin and Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi signed a joint statement on May 29 to formalize their countries’ diplomatic ties on the sidelines of the Korea–Pacific leaders’ summit in Seoul.

South Korea aims to leverage its diplomatic ties with Niue as a means to expand its diplomatic footprint in the Pacific region while enhancing bilateral cooperation with the island nation, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Niue, a self-governing island in free association with New Zealand, became the 192nd country to form diplomatic ties with South Korea. Niue is part of New Zealand’s realm, meaning they share the same monarch.

New Zealand is obligated to provide Niue with economic aid and assistance in the areas of foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government, according to the government’s website.

Niue also has diplomatic relations with China. In May 2022, the Niue government agreed to enhance its cooperation with China through Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure program.

Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit

The Korea–Pacific summit was the first to be hosted by South Korea. The country seeks to boost engagement with Pacific nations, which has been the focus of geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China.

President Yoon Suk Yeol held bilateral talks with the leaders of five Pacific island nations—Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea—toward enhancing the countries’ collaboration.

Yoon told the Pacific leaders of his intention “to expand mutually beneficial cooperation” in areas of shared interest to Pacific island countries, according to a statement issued by his office.

“In particular, the president said that as a country that values freedom and the rule of law, the Republic of Korea seeks to establish a fair and trust-based relationship with Pacific island countries,” his office stated.

Yoon launched his administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy last year, pledging to foster a “free, peaceful, and prosperous” region built on a rules-based order, amid concerns over China’s security ambitions for the strategic waters and economic leverage among the small island states.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also will attend the Korea–Pacific Islands summit, his office said on May 27, adding it would show cooperation between the 18 members of the Pacific Island Forum and South Korea for a secure region.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta anticipated discussing climate change and development cooperation at the forum with the leaders.

“Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region,” she stated. “Aotearoa New Zealand looks forward to connecting more with Korea in the region.”

Australia and New Zealand are the largest members of the forum, a bloc of mostly small island countries at risk from rising sea levels and reliant on aid from development partners.

The Pacific region became the center of attention after Beijing signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands last year, which has sparked concern among countries in the region that the pact could allow Beijing to station troops, weapons, and naval ships on the island.

The United States and Papua New Guinea signed a defense cooperation agreement last week to solidify their bilateral ties as the United States attempts to push back against China’s influence in the Pacific region.

Washington also signed deals with Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia as part of the Compact of Free Association, pending renewal of the agreement with the Marshall Islands.

Reuters contributed to this report.