(4th LD) S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK (ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5, 23-24, photo; RECASTS headline) By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East. President Lee Jae Myung (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint press announcement at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap) Lee expressed hope that the agreements would ensure a stable supply of raw materials for South Korea's nuclear power plants and lay the groundwork for joint entry into the global market. President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron hold summit talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap) Lee said Macron extended a formal invitation to the Group of Seven summit scheduled for June in Evian, France, adding that he accepted the invitation. President Lee Jae Myung (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron head to Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul for their summit talks on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap) ejkim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Lee hosts dinner for France's Macron ahead of summit Lee voices hope for closer cooperation with France on AI, energy, space FM Cho discusses Macron's S.

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OK
(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5, 23-24, photo; RECASTS headline)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.
Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues.
"President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war. We also concurred on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy," Lee said during a joint press announcement.
"We confirmed our commitment to bolstering energy security by expanding our cooperation in the nuclear and offshore wind power sectors while collaborating to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz," he added.
Macron also underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and deescalate conflict in the Middle East at the international level.
President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
Lee said the two leaders also agreed to boost trade and investment with a goal of reaching $20 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030, up from $15 billion last year.
To boost cooperation across sectors, the two sides signed a series of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and other documents.
They pledged to expand cooperation in advanced technologies and future industries -- including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology -- and to establish a ministerial-level joint committee on science and technology.
The two countries also signed a letter of intent on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, aimed at combining South Korea's manufacturing capabilities with France's processing technology and infrastructure.
The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed MOUs with French nuclear firms, Orano and Framatome, as well as a separate MOU with France's EDF on a joint development of an offshore wind power plant in the southwestern city of Yeonggwang.
President Lee Jae Myung (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint press announcement at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
Lee expressed hope that the agreements would ensure a stable supply of raw materials for South Korea's nuclear power plants and lay the groundwork for joint entry into the global market.
He also laid out plans to cooperate in space and defense while pledging efforts to bolster collaboration in the cultural sector in light of an MOU signed between the two nations' cultural heritage agencies.
During the talks, Lee said he explained Seoul's efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, while Macron reaffirmed Paris' support for peace and stability on the peninsula.
"We two leaders shared a profound understanding that peace on the Korean Peninsula has far reaching implications not just in Northeast Asia and Europe but also the rest of the world," Lee said.
Lee noted that Seoul and Paris have expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including future strategic industries, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, nuclear energy and defense, and expressed hope to deepen coordination on the international stage.
"As responsible members of the international community, the two countries are also working together to respond to rapid changes in the global landscape," he said.
President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron hold summit talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
Lee said Macron extended a formal invitation to the Group of Seven summit scheduled for June in Evian, France, adding that he accepted the invitation. If he attends, it would mark his second consecutive appearance at the G7, following his participation in Canada last year.
Lee welcomed the two countries' decision to upgrade ties from "a comprehensive partnership for the 21st century," established in 2004, to "a global strategic partnership," calling it "a new milestone" in bilateral relations built on 140 years of trust and friendship.
Macron struck a similar tone, expressing hope to expand cooperation across a broad range of areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, space and culture, under the upgraded partnership.
He said that Seoul and Paris could strengthen security cooperation and work together to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East, including ensuring safe passage through the Strait of

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Lee welcomed the two countries' decision to upgrade ties from "a comprehensive partnership for the 21st century," established in 2004, to "a global strategic partnership," calling it "a new milestone" in bilateral relations built on 140 years of trust and friendship.

### Areas for Consideration
- Korean visit, Middle East situation with French counterpart Lee to host France's Macron for state visit in early April Keywords #Lee #France #Macron Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (LEAD) S.

### Implications
- OK (ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5, 23-24, photo; RECASTS headline) By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.
- Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues. "President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war.
- They pledged to expand cooperation in advanced technologies and future industries -- including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology -- and to establish a ministerial-level joint committee on science and technology.
- Lee noted that Seoul and Paris have expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including future strategic industries, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, nuclear energy and defense, and expressed hope to deepen coordination on the international stage. "As responsible members of the international community, the two countries are also working together to respond to rapid changes in the global landscape," he said.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers lee, macron, president topics. Notable strengths include discussion of lee. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1270.