Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Seoul Defense Dialogue 2016 closes as a success

Seoul Defense Dialogue 2016 

‘Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2016’, a gathering of high-ranking officials and nongovernment security experts from all over the world held to address security issues in-depth, finished a success on September 9.

This marked the fifth meeting of the SDD and it was the largest one yet, with delegations attending from 34 countries, including Korea, and 5 international organizations. With working-level officials attending from Visegrad (the Czech Republic·Poland·Hungary·Slovakia), countries Korea has been building a closer relationship with, as well as from Uganda·Ethiopia for the first time, the SDD has taken meaningful steps toward becoming a truly global defense dialogue platform.

Under the theme ‘Complex Security Crisis: Challenges and Solutions,’ the SDD which was hosted by the Ministry of National Defense, was a place to discuss comprehensive, complex factors of the security threats that the international community is facing, such as the North Korean nuclear problem as well as maritime·cyber security, extremist terrorist acts, dual use technology for civil·military purposes, etc. As well, a firm will was proven and a number of international cooperation plans were confirmed at the SDD.

Especially, at the ‘Main Session 1’, (Denuclearization of North Korea and International Cooperation), the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, the U.S. Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy David Shear, Chief Director of the Overseas Koreans Foundation Joo Cheol-gi and other nongovernment security experts from the U.S., China, Japan and Russia participated in the discussion. Through the discussion, a consensus was formed on the need for the complete, thorough implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No.2270 and the conveyance of the firm will of the international community regarding the North in order to solve the North Korean nuclear problem.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >

<Copyright ⓒ The Korea Defense Daily, All rights reserved>