Lee wraps up Mongolia state visit, declares 'golden era' in bilateral ties

President Lee Jae-myung left Ulaanbaatar for Seoul on Saturday afternoon (local time), wrapping up his state visit to Mongolia.

The departure concluded a three-night, five-day overseas trip that also included Lee's attendance at the NATO summit in Turkey.

On the first day of the Mongolia leg, Thursday, Lee held a summit with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and discussed ways to expand cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, including rare earths.

The two leaders adopted a joint declaration on strengthening the South Korea-Mongolia strategic partnership and agreed to work toward opening a "golden era" in bilateral relations.

Mongolia's diplomatic ties with North Korea drew attention to whether Korean Peninsula peace issues would come up during the visit.

The joint declaration stated that both countries, as parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, support its three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

It also stated that "peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula carry important significance for peace, stability and security across Northeast Asia as a whole." South Korea used the occasion to explain its policy of peaceful coexistence and co-prosperity on the peninsula — encompassing expanded exchanges, normalization of relations and phased denuclearization.

On Friday, Lee met separately with National Assembly Speaker Sandagiin Badamtsetseg, the country's second-highest official, and Prime Minister Oyunersengiin Nominchimeg, who ranks third, before attending a state dinner hosted by President Khurelsukh that evening.

On the final day, Saturday, Lee attended the Naadam festival — Mongolia's largest — as the guest of honor.

Lee rounded out his Mongolia schedule by visiting the archery competition — one of the festival's three main events — and a shagai venue, where he tried the traditional Mongolian ankle-bone shooting game firsthand.