Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Both Korean and Chinese defense ministers have reaffirmed their existing stance on Korean Peninsula Peace and Denuclearization and its stability, and believed that the issues should be solved through dialogue and cooperation. 

Minister Han Min-Koo exchanged opinions about Korea and regional security, measures to promote exchange of national defense and cooperation between both countries with Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan at the ministerial talks held at the main hall of the MND building in Seoul on February 4. 

Minister Han especially made his position clear that if North Korea provokes us, we will respond to that flatfootedly and made a request for close cooperation with China, emphasizing the will of our government to build up the foundation for an actual and detailed unification basis as well as the necessity of reunification.

Also, both ministers shared the view that the Korea-U.S. alliance restrains North Korea’s provocation and contributes to the peace of Northeast Asia. Minister Han emphasized the basic stand our government has that we develop the comprehensive strategic alliance with the U.S. and the strategic partnership with China in harmony.

They also agreed to develop the “strategic partnership” meaningfully in the national defense area as well, assessing the political, economic, social, cultural and defense exchange to be greatly developed since diplomatic ties were established in 1992.

For this, both countries agreed to intensify the working level conference to set up a hot line soon, which they have been pushing forward for better strategic communication between both defense ministries, while they continue high-level mutual visits and strengthen the exchange and cooperation in various fields.

The MND has announced that the working level conference for the hot line installation would be started next week.

Furthermore, they agreed to repatriate 68 additionally-exhumed remains to China in March, following 437 remains repatriated last year. The working level meeting regarding this will be held in Seoul next week as well. Both sides also agreed that reinforcement of defense cooperation is necessary for the purpose of peacekeeping such as UN Peace Keeping operation(PKO), fights against pirates, and discussed ways to cooperate in the cyber area for national defense.

Also, China expressed its concern about the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in Korea, and Minister Han explained that there is no changes in the existing position, saying that the U.S. has not yet decided to deploy the THAAD and there are no requests of the U.S. nor any agreement between both countries.

This was first time the Chinese defense department officially expressed its stance about the possibility of the THAAD deployment in the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan invited Minister Han to visit China next year at Minister Han’s convenience.