South Korea downgrades its participation in NATO summit

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea downgraded its participation in the NATO summit in the Netherlands this week, due to “domestic priorities” and uncertainties in the Middle East, according to local media on Monday.

President Lee Jae Myung decided to skip the summit slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in The Hague.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will attend the summit instead, Yonhap News reported, citing a statement from the Presidential Office on Monday.

While South Korea is not part of the military alliance, NATO has invited Seoul, along with Japan and Australia, to its summits in recent years.

Citing domestic “priorities” and the uncertainties in the Middle East, President Lee decided to skip the summit.

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East after the US attacked Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday amid the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.