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LONDON — LONDON (AP) — King Charles III honored the Okay-pop band Blackpink on Wednesday for his or her work in elevating consciousness about local weather change, as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged nearer cooperation between their two international locations on expertise and protection.
On the second day of Yoon’s three-day state go to to London, Charles made Blackpink members Jennie Kim, Jisoo Kim and Lalisa Manoban honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire.
Bandmate Roseanne (Rosé) Park additionally obtained an MBE, although hers got here with out the “honorary” qualifier as a result of she has twin citizenship in New Zealand, one of many 14 international locations the place the U.Okay. monarch is head of state.
The honors have been introduced throughout a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in recognition of Blackpink’s function in selling the work of the COP26 summit on local weather change two years in the past in Glasgow, Scotland. The awards are a part of Britain’s honors system, which acknowledges excellent service to the nation and the broader world.
Charles had lauded the Okay-pop lady group on Tuesday throughout a state banquet in honor of Yoon and first woman Kim Keon Hee “for his or her function in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a world viewers.
“I can solely admire how they will prioritize these important points, in addition to being world superstars,” Charles stated on the banquet.
The Korean president is being handled to royal and diplomatic pomp on the go to, which the U.Okay. authorities hopes will assist cement an “ Indo-Pacific tilt ” in its international and commerce coverage.
Yoon met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the British chief’s 10 Downing St. residence for talks targeted on commerce, expertise and protection.
To coincide with the go to, U.Okay. and Korean officers launched talks on an “upgraded” free commerce settlement to exchange their present deal, which largely replicates the preparations the U.Okay. had earlier than it left the European Union.
The leaders additionally signed an settlement dubbed the “Downing Road Accord” pledging nearer cooperation on protection and expertise, together with synthetic intelligence. Britain hosted the primary worldwide AI Security Summit this month, and South Korea intends to carry a follow-up occasion subsequent 12 months.
The 2 international locations additionally agreed joint naval patrols to curb smuggling and to implement U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions.
“Your state go to underlies the deep partnership and friendship between our two international locations and the signing of the Downing Road Accord right now strengthens that friendship,” Sunak informed the Korean chief.
Yoon has not commented straight on North Korea’s launch of a spy satellite tv for pc on Tuesday. or its suspected failed missile check on Wednesday, each of which happened whereas he was in London.
In a speech to each homes of Britain’s Parliament on Tuesday, Yoon stated Britain and South Korea would work collectively on “geopolitical dangers just like the conflict in Ukraine, the Israel and Hamas battle, and the North Korean nuclear threats.”
“Korea stands united with the UK and the worldwide neighborhood to combat towards unlawful aggression and provocations,” he stated.
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