Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Military cooperation strengthening with Australia and New Zealand

MND is seeking to strengthen military cooperation with Australia and New Zealand.

The Korea defense delegation led by Director General for International Policy of MND, Lee Jung-kyu, will visit Australia and New Zealand on February 24 and 26, respectively, and discuss plans for defense exchange cooperation.

At the 15th Korea-Australia National Defense Policy Meeting held in Australia, the delegation will check on the situation of follow-up actions with Australia Defense Assistant Secretary Chris Birrer, which were drawn at the first Korea-Australia Diplomatic and Defense Ministerial Talks, and the second Korea-Australia Defense Ministerial Talks conducted in Seoul in July 2013.

They will also exchange opinions about defense cooperation, educational exchange and extension of combined training.

Following that, in New Zealand, the delegation will have the 13th Korea-New Zealand National Defense Policy Meeting with New Zealand Defense Director of International Relations, Daniel Mellsop, to focus a discussion on signing a bilateral defense cooperation MOU.

“Australia and New Zealand are our traditional allies who dispatched their soldiers to Korea and helped us during the 6·25 Korean War even though it was before we had established diplomatic ties with them. This visit will be a good opportunity to deepen and intensify the military cooperation with these two countries,” a MND official said.

By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >
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