Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Agreement on Korea-Australia Security and National Defence Cooperation Expanded

Foreign and Defense (2+2) Ministers' meeting - areas of close cooperation discussed, including summits and mutual visits

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held the 4th Korea-Australia Foreign Affairs and Defense Meeting with Australian Minister of Defence Linda Reynolds and Foreign Minister Marise Payne in Sidney, Australia, on December 10, which served as a broad discussion of issues of security and defence cooperation between two countries. Ministers from both countries exchanged opinions on various topics, including the security circumstances surrounding the Korean Peninsula, regional situations in Northeast Asia and Asia-Pacific, and nonproliferation, cyber security and countermeasures against terrorism.

They also reconfirmed the importance of the relationship between the two countries, and evaluated that it is essential for the countries to work more closely together in the areas of security and defense cooperation. They agreed that further summits and mutual visits are needed to enable closer and wider discussion. The ministers further affirmed the importance of holding regular consultative groups, such as vice-minister level strategy talks, including this meeting, as well as working-level defense policy talks, and agreed to have the next meeting in Seoul.

Particularly with regard to Korean Peninsula issues, the ministers agreed that dialogue between South and North, and North and the U.S.A. should continue to be pursued as the only way to bring about complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Still, they urged North Korea to stop any behavior that can increase military tensions within the Korean Peninsula, and to resume the dialogue between South and North, and North and the U.S.A as well. Ministers Payne and Reynolds highly appreciated our government's efforts to build better South-North relations, and said that they actively support the September 19, South-North Military Agreement.Ministers of both countries spoke highly of Australia's ongoing efforts to contribute to the United Nations Command, including Deputy Commander, United Nations Command, and Vice Admiral Royal Australian Navy Stuart Mayer. They also decided to look for ways to intensify cooperation in the field of PKO and disaster relief, where both countries have an interest.

Prior to the meeting, Minister Jeong and Reynolds had signed an MOU for cooperation related to people who went missing during the Korean War. According to the MOU, both countries have agreed to work together on the excavation of remains and the rapid repatriation of 42 Australian war veterans who have not yet been returned home. Both countries' ministers first reconfirmed the importance of cooperation between the two in the national defense field. Significantly, they agreed to expand cooperation in the area of education exchanges, while positively assessing that the activation of mutual combined training and multilateral combined training, such as Korea-Australia Navy combined training, Haedori-Wallaby training, has increased tactical operational capability.

Both countries' ministers also agreed to seek reciprocal cooperation in the defense industry. To this end, based on the MOU for defense research, development, test and assessment cooperation which was entered into last month, they pledged to strengthen national science and technology cooperation, as well as to look for ways to resume the joint defense cooperation committee that was suspended in 2014. Minister Jeong expressed his gratitude that Australia recently selected a Korean company as its partner in an infantry fighting vehicle project, and asked for Australia's ongoing interest in our defense industry.

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >

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