South Korean President Park Geun-hye has embarked on a 12-day African tour on Wednesday to forge economic and diplomatic ties with the world’s second-largest continent. Park is expected to visit three east African countries - Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya - before heading to France to mark the 130th anniversary of Seoul-Paris diplomatic relations.

In Ethiopia, Park will visit the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa and deliver a special speech for the first time as a South Korean president. She will also visit the Hanbit Unit base in South Sudan to encourage the peacekeeping unit and attend an event that pays tribute to the Ethiopian veterans that participated in the Korean War 65 years ago.

Park will be the first South Korean president to visit Uganda, a traditional ally of North Korea. Uganda and North Korea have maintained close military partnership since they established diplomatic relations in 1963.

An unnamed Blue House official said that President Park’s latest tour to Africa will be meaningful in that it will open new doors for South Korea to intensify its military cooperation with the continent’s nations in addition to boosting economic cooperation and development. As part of efforts to expand military ties, President Park will be accompanied by Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo.

After her three-nation tour of Africa, President Park will head to France on June 1 for a summit with her counterpart Francois Hollande. It is the first state visit to France in 16 years after the one made by late President Kim Dae-jung in March, 2000.

Meanwhile, the latest trip has been accompanied by the second-largest business delegation, reflecting much interest from the economic circle in seeking business opportunities in Africa.

By Nam Gi-hyun

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