Defense forum focuses on Northeast Asian stability

By Jun Ji-hye

Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo speaks during an interview with The Korea Times on the sidelines of the 4th Seoul Defense Dialogue in the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul, Friday, the last day of the three-day multilateral security forum hosted by Korea. / Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo expressed the hope that the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), a multilateral security forum hosted by South Korea, will contribute to stability, security and prosperity in Northeast Asia.

During an interview with The Korea Times on the sidelines of the SDD, Friday, Baek said the forum would allow countries in the region to meet regularly and discuss national security policies.

The three-day SDD is an annual security forum of vice-minister level defense officials and security experts from 30 countries and global bodies including the United Nations and the European Union.

The fourth forum, with the theme “Seventy Years after World War II and the Division of Korea,” was wrapped up on the day.

“During the dialogue, a number of bilateral and multilateral talks took place between defense officials from China, Japan, Russia and other nations,” he said. “Also, the officials from Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia (MIKTA) exchanged their views and position on defense issues in the region.”

Baek noted that this year’s SDD had the first MIKTA defense talks, representing a new attempt at defense cooperation among middle-power nations.

“Taking the first MIKTA defense talks as an opportunity, I hope meetings will continue to take place at future SDDs so that member states can promote understanding in defense and contribute to maintaining peace in the region,” he said.

During the talks held Friday, MIKTA discussed issues of mutual concern such as cyber security and terrorism.

Baek said the SDD also provided the participants with a chance of better understanding the division of the Korean Peninsula and the need for the unification.

“The understanding of the international community is very necessary to achieve unification,” he said.

The vice minister stressed that President Park Geun-hye’s keynote speech during the opening ceremony Wednesday showed her high expectations and support for the SDD.

“The participation of the President also showed her will to link her long-term goal, a trust building process between Seoul and Pyongyang, as well as her vision for peace in Northeast Asia with the SDD,” Baek said.

Baek added that it was regrettable that North Korea rejected Seoul’s invitation to the SDD. “We will exert full efforts to improve future SDD forums,” he said.

In their SDD Vision Statement, the participants reaffirmed that a regular meeting of high-ranking defense officials as part of efforts to encourage defense cooperation was a practical contribution to the regional stability and global peace.

The statement added that the divided peninsula serves as flashpoint of insecurity in the Asia-Pacific and the world, noting, “Promoting peace and stability, enhancing confidence building measures and ultimately achieving the peaceful unification of the peninsula would thus contribute greatly to the advancement of regional and global peace.”

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye