SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT TO EMBARK ON THREE-NATION SOUTHEAST ASIAN TRIP NEXT WEEK

SEOUL, Oct 3 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol will visit the Philippines, Singapore and Laos next week to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and hold bilateral talks, his office said Thursday.

Yonhap News Agency reported that Yoon plans to embark on the six-day trip on Sunday, which will include bilateral summits in the Philippines and Singapore as well as participation in the ASEAN-related meetings in Laos, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said in a briefing.

During his visit to the Philippines from Sunday to Monday, Yoon will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss ways to elevate bilateral ties.

Yoon will hold talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday and deliver an address on Seoul's unification vision before heading to Laos on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Yoon will attend the ASEAN summit and ASEAN plus three summit involving South Korea, China and Japan. He will also hold eight bilateral summits, including those with Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

During this year's summit, South Korea will establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN to deepen cooperation with the 10-nation regional bloc.

Consultations have been under way to arrange Yoon's first summit with Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Laos on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits, a presidential official said.

On Friday, he will participate in the East Asian Summit and return home.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP