Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Extending our military exchanges and defense cooperation

Entered into an MOU for national defense cooperation

Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo had a meeting with the defense minister of Botswana, Shaw Kgathi, who visited Korea on January 18. The meeting was arranged at Korea's request for an official visit to Korea from Minister Kgathi, and happened three years after the last talks in October, 2013.

The ministers closely discussed how cooperation in the area of defense could be improved, including through ▲extension of military high-level personnel, ▲initiation of military education exchanges, ▲vitalization of defense cooperation, etc.

Minister Han explained the security situation surrounding Korea such as the North Korean nuclear and missile threats to Minister Kgathi, and asked Botswana to continue to take part in the international community’s efforts to impose sanctions against and apply pressure to North Korea in order to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem.

Significantly, the two countries entered into an MOU for defense cooperation, laying the institutional groundwork for further development of cooperative defense relations between the two countries. We have concluded MOUs or agreements for national defense cooperation with 42 countries, which can be characterized as basic agreements for promoting defense cooperation in earnest. Botswana is the fourth African country we have entered into an MOU with, following Gabon, Ethiopia and Uganda.

An MND official said, “With these talks and the conclusion of an MOU, we expect our two countries can expand and develop our cooperation in the field of national defense.”

By Su-Yeol, Maeng < guns13@dema.mil.kr >
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