Deputy Prime Minister meeting with ROK Minister for National Defense

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, hosted the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Minister for National Defense, Lee Jong-sup, at Parliament House on Thursday 4 August 2022.

In their meeting, both ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Australia-ROK defence relationship, which is a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in December 2021.

“I am delighted to host Minister Lee in Australia, to build on our productive discussions at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June this year,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said.

“The security of Australia and the ROK is tied to the openness, inclusiveness and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and an enduring rules-based international order.”

Deputy Prime Minister Marles said he and Minister Lee discussed their commitment to deepening the bilateral defence relationship.

“The ROK is an important partner for Australia, particularly in the areas of military training and exercises, science and technology and defence materiel,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said.

“I welcome the ROK’s inaugural participation in Australia’s multilateral air combat exercise Pitch Black in northern Australia next month as a tangible example of this strong partnership.”

Australia continues to support the ROK to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, including through an ongoing commitment to the United Nations Command in its role enforcing the Armistice Agreement.

Australia remains committed to strictly enforcing UN Security Council sanctions and our own autonomous sanctions against North Korea.

Australia calls on North Korea to abandon its reckless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and take concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

MEDIA NOTE:

Media can access imagery at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20222478