Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Exchange of information and expertise discussed at the defense ministers’ conference

Defense Minister Han Min-koo exchanged opinions with Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno on circumstances of regional security including the Korean Peninsula and signed an MOU for Korea-Colombia defensive cooperation at the MND building, Seoul, on March 11. 

In particular, they addressed matters in national defense and defense cooperation areas between the countries, such as cyber security cooperation, export business of coast guard cutters, etc., and had a discussion about further development plans.

Minister Han said, “It was a very meaningful visit of the Colombian Defense Minister from the only country in Latin American that engaged in the Korean War. I deeply thank Minister Pinzón, coming from the home of the great writer, Márquez, Gabriel García, for leaving a long piece of writing in the visitors’ book.”

He continued, “This visit will serve as important momentum for the defensive cooperation between Korea and Colombia. I hope the Colombian Defense Minister can make a contribution to the development of the relationship between both countries while he experiences Korea himself, despite his short visit.”

And Minister Pinzón replied that Korea and Colombia have an eternal blood alliance as he mentioned in the visitors’ book, saying he would like to work harder for more development of the relationship based on that blood alliance.

Following that, both ministers signed the MOU for Korea-Colombia defensive cooperation that specifies the cooperation in accordance with a principle of mutual benefit and equality for information sharing, mutual interchange of defense experts, cyber security, etc. 

The MOU clarified that both carry out the cooperation based on the principle of mutual benefit and equality within the limits of both sides’ legislation and policy, with a view to improving brotherly relations in the military area. 

They narrowed the field of cooperation to information exchange, mutual interchange of defense experts, exchange of military education, R&D, defense technology cooperation in the military supplies and maintenance area, humanitarian support and PKO, cyber security and other mutually agreed matters.

Military secrets, in particular, are to be protected  in accordance with each countries’ legislation and the Korea-Colombia General Security of Military Information Agreement and Follow-up Agreement entered in June 2011. 

The MND is expecting that the MOU will set the foundation to expand and deepen the military cooperation between both countries quantitatively and qualitatively as well. 

Colombian Defense Minister Pinzón is going to have a memorial ceremony for the fallen heroes during the 6·25 Korean War at the War Memorial of Korea and tour security sites like Panmunjeom during his visit to Korea that started on March 10.  

Meanwhile, as the only Latin American country that engaged in the Korean War, Colombia is the blood alliance that fought for liberal democracy and peace for Korea. It also a traditional close ally that has been continuously contributing to peace and stability in Korea as a member country of the United Nations Command(UNC) after the participation in war.

Colombia sent 5,314 soldiers to Korea from May 1951, to July 1953, during the Korean War, and 143 of them were killed, 69 missing and 438 injured.

It has been making a great contribution to peace and safety in Korea so far, having a Colombian officer stationed in Korea who is also a liaison officer of the UNC and two Colombian officers in the Military Armistice Commission of the UNC.

A MND official said, “This defense ministers’ conference was an opportunity to cooperate with each other in the national defense and security area as well as intensify the friendly and cooperative relations between both countries.”

By Seok-Jong, Lee <seokjong@dema.mil.kr>