Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister Lee made congratulatory remarks at the International Seapower Symposium

"Build regional stability and prosperity with strong sea power"

Emphasized the role and responsibility of a global pivotal country

Defense minister’s first visit to MADEX

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup (middle in the front row), Head of the National Assembly's Defense Committee Han Ki-ho (sixth on the right in the front row), Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho (sixth on the left on the front row), and Deputy Commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command Ahn Byung-seok (fifth on the right in the front row) pose for a photo at the 16th International Seapower Symposium held at Signiel Busan on June 8. Reported by Yang Dong-wook

P2) Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup visits the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition at BEXCO, Busan on June 8 and tours booths of domestic defense companies and talks with company representatives. Provided by the Ministry of National Defense

On June 8, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup emphasized that the Defense Ministry will back up the Korean government’s Strategy of Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region with strong maritime power and maritime security cooperation.

Minister Lee attended the 16th International Seapower Symposium at Signiel Busan held concurrently with International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX), and said, “The Indo-Pacific region is increasingly unstable due to historical and geopolitical factors such as maritime boundary disputes and territorial disputes, and above all, North Korea is escalating regional instability with the illegal distribution of WMD-related materials over the ocean as well as nuclear and missile threats.”

He added, “Amid these grave circumstances, Korea unveiled the Indo-Pacific Strategy for Freedom, Peace and Prosperity to fulfil its role as a global pivot nation. This strategy mainly drives strong maritime power and maritime security cooperation activities.” He emphasized that the various views discussed during the symposium will strengthen cooperation among countries in the region and help build stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

The symposium on ‘comprehensive cooperation and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific’ was organized by the South Korean Navy, Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy, SLOC Study Group-Korea, Korean Association of International Studies, Sejong University, Hanyang University, and Chungnam National University.

The symposium was attended by 300 specialists on diplomacy and security, including Minister Lee, Head of the National Assembly's Defense Committee Han Ki-ho, Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho, Deputy Commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command Ahn Byung-seok, former Chiefs of Naval Operations, Navy Development Advisory Committee members. Notably, many representatives of foreign military forces participated.

The symposium proceeded with opening remarks, congratulatory remarks, a keynote address and presentations and discussions by subcommittees.

Head of the National Assembly's Defense Committee Han said in his congratulatory address, “The Indo-Pacific region has many strategically important shipping routes, and I believe that this symposium will offer valuable opportunities to gather our strength and wisdom for maritime security based on harmony and co-prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

Chief of Naval Operations Lee said in his opening remarks, “This symposium will be an important momentum to strengthen solidarity and unity of the international community for co-prosperity and further deepen maritime security cooperation based on mutual trust.”

Minister Lee visited MADEX booths after the symposium and talked with representatives of domestic defense companies.

Minister Lee went to the booths of domestic defense companies to listen to the representatives to seek ways to provide governmental support to expand defense industry exports.

He is the first defense minister to visit MADEX.

He expressed a firm pan-governmental commitment to support defense industry exports, saying, “This event will help publicize the excellent technology of our maritime defense companies.”

By Hyun-woo, Seo <lgiant61@dema.mi.kr>

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