Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister Lee meets with NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation

Agreed on contribution to international peace through security cooperation

On the afternoon of the 18th, National Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop met with a delegation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and exchanged opinions on current major concerns of both sides, including the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe, and the direction of ROK-NATO security cooperation.

Both sides evaluated that their friendly and cooperative relations are being strengthened through exchanges between high-level officials, such as the visit of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation to South Korea for the first time in five years after the meeting between President Yoon Seok Yeol and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last June. They also agreed to further expand cooperation while profoundly empathizing with each other based on the common understanding that security cooperation between Korea and NATO, built on shared core values such as liberal democracy and human rights, will contribute to international peace and security.

Minister Lee urged NATO to continue to show interest and give support to achieving the denuclearization of North Korea and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, explaining the recent security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the South Korean government's policies toward North Korea. In response, Marcos Perestrello, head of the delegation, emphasized that ‘NATO will continue to support the South Korean government's efforts for the complete denuclearization of North Korea and stability on the Korean Peninsula,’ speaking highly of the South Korean government's policies toward North Korea. He also expressed his gratitude for South Korea's long history of participation in the international community's efforts for peace and stability in Europe amidst the unstable security situation there, such as the Ukraine crisis.

In addition, both sides evaluated that since South Korea became NATO's global partner in 2006, the ROK-NATO　defense cooperation　has continued to develop through exchanges between high-level defense officials, joint training, and exchanges for military training. Also, given the connectivity between Europe and Asia, they agreed to cooperate to further strengthen ROK-NATO cooperation to respond to newly posed security challenges in areas that include cyber, space, and climate.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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