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| On Jan. 30, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, center, poses for a photo before he paid tribute at the National War Memorial in Yongsan, Seoul, to British soldiers killed during the Korean War. Former British Ambassador to Korea Scott Wightman, right, also joined the event. / Korea Times file |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon on Friday paid tribute at the National War Memorial in Yongsan, Seoul to British soldiers killed during the Korean War. Britain was the second-largest overseas contributor of troops during the three-year civil war, in which 1,078 British servicemen died.
During the Seoul trip, Secretary Fallon met Defense Minister Han Min-koo. The Ministry of National Defense said the two sides discussed international and regional security and ways to cooperate on issues such as Ebola and counter-piracy operations.
Maritime safety of Korean vessels and sailors has been a key issue since mid-2000. Somali pirates seized several Korean vessels and sailors in the region. Some ships and crews were released after a ransom was paid.
Fallon said on Thursday he was pleased to renew his links with South Korea.
"I know all our countries' common interests and values, thanks to my previous business responsibilities," he said. "My visit today as defense secretary is an excellent opportunity to strengthen further our close military ties, building on our cooperation in tackling the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and on South Korea's valuable contributions in other areas, including South Sudan and maritime security in the Indian Ocean. I look forward to doing so."
Outgoing British Ambassador Scott Wightman accompanied Fallon, who laid a wreath to commemorate British servicemen.
It was Wightman's last day as ambassador to Korea. He left Seoul for Britain later that day. The former British ambassador is to serve in another foreign posting. The British Embassy would not name his next posting because the host government has yet to approve the new envoy.
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