UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | MANILA, August 23, 2026 — South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun attended the 27th ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, engaging with his counterparts from ASEAN member states, China, and Japan on practical cooperation measures and pressing regional and international issues.

The meeting centred on joint responses to global supply chain disruptions and growing uncertainties surrounding food and energy security — concerns sharpened by recent developments in the Middle East — as well as a broader assessment of ASEAN+3 cooperation in overcoming regional crises.

Building on a Track Record of Crisis Response

Minister Cho opened by acknowledging the tangible results ASEAN+3 has achieved in managing regional crises, citing the Asian financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic as defining tests of the framework's resilience. He pointed to two mechanisms in particular as representative achievements: the Multilateralisation of the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMIM), which serves as a regional financial safety net, and the ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), designed to provide rapid food assistance in the event of disasters or supply shocks.

At the same time, Minister Cho delivered a frank assessment of current vulnerabilities. Recent supply chain disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, he argued, have laid bare the structural fragilities of regional food and energy security — and underscored the need to further strengthen ASEAN+3's collective response framework against external shocks.

Korea Leads on Food Security

On food security, Minister Cho highlighted South Korea's status as the largest national contributor to APTERR, having provided approximately 40,000 tons of rice to the reserve to date. He cited concrete examples of the mechanism's impact, including assistance delivered in the wake of the earthquake in Myanmar and flood and landslide damage in Laos.

Looking ahead, Minister Cho proposed expanding cooperation beyond existing rice stockpiling and emergency aid to develop more creative and practical responses to food crises — which he described as increasingly complex, driven by the intersection of climate change, natural disasters, supply chain instability, and fertiliser shortages.

Energy Security and the ASEAN Power Grid

On energy, Minister Cho called for concrete and practical cooperation to diversify supply chains and bolster regional energy security. He announced South Korea's intention to contribute actively to the establishment of the ASEAN Power Grid, which aims to connect the electricity networks of ASEAN member states, and to support ASEAN's capacity for the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

He also expressed South Korea's commitment to enhancing regional energy supply stability and crisis response capabilities through cooperation with the International Energy Agency, with the goal of building a more sustainable and resilient regional energy security architecture.

Korean Peninsula: Dialogue and Diplomacy

Minister Cho took the opportunity to brief participating nations on the South Korean government's efforts to realise a Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas coexist peacefully and grow together. He called on ASEAN+3 member states to support peace and stability on the Peninsula, and expressed his hope that the broader region could achieve lasting peace and sustainable prosperity.

The participating countries affirmed a shared view that the Korean Peninsula issue should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy.

A Unified Commitment to Stronger Safety Nets

The meeting concluded with broad agreement among participants that existing cooperation frameworks in food and energy security must be developed into more practical and responsive joint systems capable of withstanding external shocks and supply chain disruptions. Participants also agreed to continue exploring cooperation in finance, food, and energy within the ASEAN+3 framework.

The gathering was assessed as an important step in reinforcing the region's collective crisis management capacity — drawing on the accumulated achievements of ASEAN+3 cooperation to strengthen the regional safety net at a time of heightened global uncertainty.