AUSTRALIA-SOUTH KOREA/MINISTERS Australian Foreign and Defence Minister meet South Korean counterparts in Sydney

Record ID: 140071

  • Title: AUSTRALIA-SOUTH KOREA/MINISTERS Australian Foreign and Defence Minister meet South Korean counterparts in Sydney
  • Date: 11th September 2015
  • Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER KEVIN ANDREWS (L), AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JULIE BISHOP, SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE AND SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAN MIN-KOO (R) AT NEWS CONFERENCE SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE AND SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAN MIN-KOO (R) AT NEWS CONFERENCE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER KEVIN ANDREWS SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAN MIN-KOO (SOUNDBITE) (English), AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JULIE BISHOP, SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING: "We had a very frank and full discussion about North Korea, DPRK. Recent provocations in August were managed exceedingly well by our friends in South Korea and we continue to be supporters and, unwavering in fact in our support for the way the Republic of Korea handles the provocations from North Korea. We will continue to work with Korea to hope that the six-party talks can recommence, that North Korea will cease its provocative behaviour and that over time, we will see peace and stability return to the Korean peninsula." MINISTER AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER YUN BYUNG-SE SAYING: "We expressed concern on a possible strategic provocation by North Korea such as launching long-range missiles on the pretext of launching a satellite. We stressed that North Korea should faithfully abide by a U.N. Security Council resolution in relation to nuclear programme and missiles." BISHOP AND YUN BYUNG-SE AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAN MIN-KOO SAYING: "We expressed our expectation for the only joint military drill between two countries, 'Haedoli Wallaby', due to be held this October. We agreed to enhance our substantive cooperation on further joint exercises." MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7YQ8ZVGVZURBLV1UH0B4HBXX0
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Defence Minister Han Min-koo on Friday (September 11) met Australian Foreign Minister Julie Andrews and Defence Minister Kevin Andrews in Sydney to discuss ways to enhance security and defence ties.
    A blueprint on defence and security cooperation was discussed. South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott agreed on it in April.
    It involves matters of defence security and cooperation on joint defence exercises, peace keeping, humanitarian responses as well as greater cooperation between customs and immigration, cyber in space and technology.
    Bishop, Andrews and the South Korean ministers also discussed North Korea.
    "We had a very frank and full discussion about North Korea, DPRK. Recent provocations in August were managed exceedingly well by our friends in South Korea and we continue to be supporters and, unwavering in fact in our support for the way the Republic of Korea handles the provocations from North Korea. We will continue to work with Korea to hope that the six-party talks can recommence, that North Korea will cease its provocative behaviour and that over time, we will see peace and stability return to the Korean peninsula," said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at a joint news conference.
    North and South Korea reached an agreement on August 25 to end a stand-off involving an exchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula into a state of heightened military tension.
    North Korea expressed regret over the wounding in early August of South Korean soldiers in landmine blasts on their border and the South agreed to halt anti-North Korea broadcasts over border loudspeakers.
    The minister repeated concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme.
    "We expressed concern on a possible strategic provocation by North Korea such as launching long-range missiles on the pretext of launching a satellite. We stressed that North Korea should faithfully abide by a U.N. Security Council resolution in relation to nuclear programme and missiles," said South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.
    The defence ministers agreed to continue defence cooperation as well as their bilateral exercise "Haedoli Wallaby".
    "We expressed our expectation for the only joint military drill between two countries 'Haedoli Wallaby' due to be held this October. We agreed to enhance our substantive cooperation on further joint exercise," said South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo.
    The next meeting with all four defence and foreign ministers is set to be held in Seoul in 2017.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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