South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not in photograph) at the presidential office in Seoul on May 21, 2023. (PHOTO / POOL / AFP)

SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol begins the country's first summit with leaders of Pacific islands on Monday.

The South Korean president held bilateral talks with some of the visiting Pacific leaders over the weekend, including Kiribati President Taneti Maamau and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape.

"The president discussed expanding reciprocal cooperation in development, marine and fisheries as well as building health infrastructure and responding to climate change in bilateral meetings with each of the Pacific islands," Yoon's office said in a statement on Sunday.

South Korea also sees greater scope for trilateral cooperation with the United States and Australia to tackle regional challenges such as supply chains, critical minerals and climate change

South Korea also sees greater scope for trilateral cooperation with the United States and Australia to tackle regional challenges such as supply chains, critical minerals and climate change.

ALSO READ: S. Korean nurses strike after Yoon vetoes bill on pay, work conditions

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles will also attend the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, his office said on Saturday, adding it would show cooperation between the 18 members of the Pacific Island Forum and South Korea.

Australia and New Zealand are the largest members of the forum, a bloc of mostly small island countries at risk from rising sea levels caused by climate change and reliant on aid from development partners.

READ MORE: Yoon slammed for failings in Seoul talks with Kishida

Micronesia could not attend the meeting in Seoul due to a typhoon, Yoon's office said.