Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun held a bilateral meeting with Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair on the sidelines of the 13th Seoul Defense Dialogue and the Korea-UNC Defense Ministerial Meeting on the afternoon of September 11 (Wednesday) and exchanged views on the security situation in the region and on the Korean Peninsula and ways to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

The two ministers noted that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between the two countries has deepened after the exchange of state visits by the leaders of the two countries in 2022 and 2023, and vowed to achieve tangible results in the defense and defense industry as well.

Minister Kim acknowledged Canada’s active support in imposing sanctions on North Korea and its contribution to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through its activities at the United Nations Command. Minister Blair emphasized South Korea’s strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region and suggested that the two countries work closely together.

Minister Kim mentioned the excellent submarine construction capabilities of Korean companies in the context of the Canadian Navy’s ongoing next-generation submarine project, and suggested that the two countries develop a mutually beneficial defense industry cooperation model.

ThetwoministersconcurredthatKorea’sparticipationinCanada’sarmedforcesprojectwillcontributetotheKorea-CanadaCSP,whichgoesbeyondameredefensepartnership,andpledgedtoactivelyexploreopportunitiesforbilateralcooperationinthefuture.

They also pledged to expand various defense ties in the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen the rules-based international order.