Page 191 - 2018 Defense White Paper

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At the 3 ROK–Russia Defense Strategic Dialogue
held in August 2018, in particular, the two sides agreed
to elevate the level of their strategic dialogue to Vice
Minister-level and organize it regularly in consideration

of the signif icance of the ROK–Russia relations.
During the meeting, the two sides built a consensus
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on the need for exchanges of military off icials, the The 3 ROK–Russia Defense Strategic
Dialogue (August 2018)
installation of hotlines between their air forces, the
reorganization of the institutional framework to bolster defense exchanges and cooperation,
and bilateral joint research to build trust on maritime affairs.

The MND will expand defense exchanges and cooperation with Russia; enhance military-level
trust in support of the ROK government’s New Northern Policy 21) ; and, therefore, eventually
help develop the ROK–Russia relations into one that contributes to peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

2. Expanding Defense Exchanges and Cooperation with Key

Countries in Each Region Chapter 5

| Southeast Asia and Oceania | The ROK Armed Forces strives to establish a diversif ied

defense diplomacy framework and generate substantive defense cooperation with Southeast
Asian countries in accordance with the government’s “New Southern Policy” 22) toward stronger
cooperation with ASEAN.

The ROK has been strengthening cooperation with Southeast Asian nations in a way that
contributes to the enhancement of security in Northeast Asia through multilateral cooperation
to address regional security threats. At the same time, the ROK is actively pursuing reciprocal

21) A policy to connect the ROK’s transportation, logistics, and energy infrastructure with Eurasian countries in the
north of the Korean Peninsula, including Russia, China, Mongolia, and Central Asian countries, to create the
new growth engine for the ROK economy and seek mutual prosperity with the countries while promoting peace
and prosperity on the Eurasian continent including the Korean Peninsula
22) A foreign policy to strengthen friendly cooperation with 10 ASEAN member states and India to the level of
cooperation between the ROK and neighboring states on the political, cultural, and human interaction fronts

Section 3 Expansion of Defense Exchanges and Cooperation 189