Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

They will attend the Sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting on May 1

They agreed to continue joint efforts including summit-level exchanges

Defense Minister Shin Won Sik called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on April 29 and exchanged views on outstanding issues. From left, Minister Shin, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Prime Minister Albanese and Minister for Foreign Affairs 

Defense Minister Shin Won Sik and Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Tae Yul, who are visiting Australia, called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the morning of April 29 (local time) in the capital city of Canberra and exchanged views on outstanding bilateral issues.

The two ministers are in Australia to attend the Sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (2+2) on May 1.

The two ministers and Prime Minister Albanese exchanged views on issues of common interest, including high-level exchanges, Indo-Pacific strategy, economic, defense and defense industry cooperation, and North Korea’s nuclear threat and related issues. The two Korean ministers conveyed greetings from President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Australian prime minister and paid tribute to the noble sacrifice of 17,164 Australian soldiers who participated in the Korean War. They underlined South Korea’s commitment to making progress on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between South Korea and Australia.

Prime Minister Albanese said, “Amid continuing challenges to the rules-based international order, cooperation between like-minded countries in the region such as South Korea and Australia is vital, and I expect the Sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (2+2) to provide an important momentum in consolidating bilateral strategic communication and cooperation.”

Both sides noted the active summit diplomacy between the two countries and pledged to continue bilateral communications, including summit-level exchanges.

They also concurred that the two countries will strengthen efforts in implementing the Indo-Pacific strategy.

They appreciated that defense and defense cooperation between the two countries has developed substantially and agreed to strengthen it further.

By Ah-Mi, Cho <joajoa@dema.mil.kr>

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