Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[In 19th Asia Security Summit]
ROK, China hold defense ministerial talks

While taking part in the 19th Asia Security Summit, Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop held Republic of Korea (ROK)-China defense ministerial talks on the afternoon of June 10 at the request of his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe (魏鳳和).

The two ministers discussed the recent security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and ways to strengthen defense exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and exchanged opinions on issues of mutual interest.

Expressing serious concern over the security situation on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s recent consecutive provocations, Lee stressed the need for the ROK and China to work together to make North Korea understand that the benefits that it can get from abandoning nuclear arms outweigh the costs of possessing nuclear arms, and called on China to play a constructive role in that process.

In response, Wei Fenghe expressed China’s hope for cooperation with the ROK in addressing Korean Peninsula issues, reaffirming China’s goal of maintaining peace and achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula. 

Marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the ROK and China, Lee also stressed the need for the two countries to strengthen existing cooperation while looking for new areas in which to work together based on a principle of mutual respect and common interests.

Significantly, the two ministers placed great weight on the official launch of an additional hotline between naval and air force forces that was agreed upon at the revision of the ｢Memorandum of understanding on hotlines between naval and air forces of the ROK and China｣ in 2021.

The two sides made the assessment that the existing hotlines between the two countries and the newly launched hotlines between the naval and air forces of the two countries will greatly contribute to preventing accidental clashes between the militaries of the two countries.