S. Korea, Australia press N. Korea to denuclearize

Foreign and Defense Ministers of Korea and Australia hold hands after a joint press conference at the foreign ministry’s building in Seoul, Thursday, following their first “two-plus-two” meeting. From left are Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith, Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin. / Yonhap

By Chung Min-uck

South Korea and Australia, representative middle power states in the Asia-Pacific region, Thursday stepped up pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and their respective Australian counterparts Bob Carr and Stephen Smith held their first joint “two-plus-two” security dialogue in Seoul. The two-plus-two meetings will take place on a regular basis every two years from now, according to a joint press statement released after the talks.

“The four ministers urged North Korea to comply fully with its international obligations and commitments,” Yun said in a joint press conference with the three ministers. The two countries “called on North Korea to choose a path toward peace through trust, as has been offered by the international community, including South Korea,” Yun said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following Pyongyang’s third nuclear test on February which was quickly condemned by the international community and resulted in a new U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution. North Korea is currently shifting its stance toward dialogue, offering talks to the South and the United States.

However, Seoul and Washington have responded by saying that Pyongyang must first demonstrate its sincerity by making concrete steps toward denuclearization, which Pyongyang promised to do in the UNSC Resolutions and the conditions held in the Joint Statement of the Six-Party talks, for any dialogue to resume.

Ministers Smith and Carr also officially expressed support for President Park Geun-hye’s North Korean policy of “Trust-Building Process on the Korean Peninsula.”

Meanwhile, during the conference, the ministers emphasized that middle power nations such as South Korea and Australia could play a leading role in bringing peace in the region, conflicted by North Korea’s provocations and increasing rivalry between the U. S. and China.

“Middle powers like Australia and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) need to help ensure, as international strategic circumstances change, that we make our contribution to the architecture of the bilateral relationship (between the U.S. and China),” said Smith. “There is no need for a choice. We see optimistically China emerging as a positive force.”

Smith added that Australia don’t see any conflict with its alliance with the U.S. and its growing relationship with China.

“It is not a zero-sum game,” said Smith. “This can be win-win for not only U.S. and China but for players throughout the region.”

Diplomatic experts say that Washington is seeking to contain the rise of new regional power China in line with its “pivot to Asia-Pacific” policy. It has created an awkward position for middle power nations such as South Korea and Australia who have to choose between the two great powers.

Allegedly, South Korea’s strengthening of strategic ties with Australia is part of U.S. efforts to forge a united front against China.

Australia and Japan have held their “two-plus-two” meetings since 2007, while South Korea and the U.S. held such talks for the first time in 2010. China condemned the talks.

Seoul and Tokyo have yet to launch such a partnership because historic animosity stemming from the World War II era still lingers among them. Signing of a military intelligence-sharing agreement between the two countries fell apart last year because South Koreans protested severely against launching a military deal with its former invader.