Wi Sung-lac, director of the Office of National Security, left for Kazakhstan on the 28th to discuss energy security and supply chain cooperation ahead of the Korea–Central Asia summit in September. As the prolonged Middle East situation heightens uncertainty in energy supply and demand, the move aims to sharply strengthen cooperation and investment with Kazakhstan, the largest trading partner in Central Asia.
Cheong Wa Dae said the same day that it is visiting "to hold talks with Kazakhstan, one of the largest trade and investment partners and a key cooperation country in Central Asia." It added, "Our government plans to communicate closely with Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, to ensure the successful hosting of the Korea–Central Asia summit."
During this visit, Deputy Minister Wi plans to meet officials from the Kazakh presidential office to discuss preparations for the Korea–Central Asia summit, an exchange of views on a visit to Korea by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and on the regional situation, and ways to cooperate on energy and supply chains.
The government has focused its diplomatic efforts on securing energy from the Middle East and Central Asia to respond to the energy supply crisis caused by the war between the United States and Iran. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said in April that Korea had secured 18 million barrels of Kazakh crude oil, 5 million barrels of Omani crude oil, and 1.6 million tons of naphtha, and agreed to receive priority supply of 200 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia.