Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back reaffirmed South Korea’s dedication to pursuing each deterrence and dialogue in managing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing the significance of regional cooperation, together with with China and different neighboring nations.
Talking on the twelfth ASEAN Protection Ministers’ Assembly Plus in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Ahn warned that North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile packages — together with its modernization of typical forces — pose a grave risk to peace and stability within the area.
“The Ministry of Nationwide Protection will keep a robust deterrence posture by way of shut Korea-U.S. mixed protection readiness, whereas constantly pursuing a two-track method of easing army tensions and constructing belief,” he stated.
He added that lasting peace on the peninsula “have to be constructed collectively by each Koreas, neighboring nations and the worldwide group.”
Ahn’s remarks, the protection ministry stated, replicate Seoul’s broader technique of balancing deterrence and dialogue — a dual-track method that has change into the inspiration of its regional diplomacy. The coverage emphasizes sustaining a reputable protection posture by way of its alliance whereas protecting channels for peace and engagement open.
Ahn additionally pledged to strengthen Seoul’s contribution to the South Korea-ASEAN Complete Strategic Partnership proposed by President Lee Jae Myung, saying Seoul would broaden cooperation with ASEAN members in protection know-how, logistics and the protection {industry} to boost regional safety and innovation.
Final month, Lee pledged to raise South Korea’s relationship with ASEAN, specializing in attaining $300 billion in commerce and strengthening joint efforts to fight transnational cybercrime.
In the course of the assembly, Ahn held a collection of bilateral talks together with his counterparts from China, Japan, the U.S., Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.
In his assembly with Chinese language Protection Minister Dong Jun, Ahn raised South Korea’s considerations over China’s set up of enormous maritime buildings within the West Sea, emphasizing the significance of “mutual respect and nearer communication” in maritime actions.
The 2 ministers additionally mentioned methods to strengthen stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The protection chief additional mentioned protection and defense-industry cooperation with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Protection Minister Richard Marles, Thai Protection Minister Natthapon Nakpanich and Malaysian Protection Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Subjects included high-level exchanges, joint workout routines and the diversification of naval shipbuilding and upkeep tasks.
Ahn additionally met U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the assembly, marking their first talks since a telephone dialog in July.
Hegseth congratulated Ahn on the profitable South Korea-U.S. summit held in the course of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation Financial Leaders’ Assembly in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, final week, and expressed his hope to fulfill once more in Seoul the next week for the annual Safety Consultative Assembly.
Ahn thanked him for his form phrases and stated that either side would work intently collectively to show the outcomes of the summit into tangible army cooperation.
Ahn launched Lee’s “END” initiative — quick for Engagement, Normalization and Denuclearization — as South Korea’s coverage framework for dialogue with Pyongyang, calling for worldwide assist for Seoul’s denuclearization and peace efforts.
Reiterating that North Korea’s weapons buildup stays “a grave problem to the worldwide nonproliferation regime,” he urged neighboring powers to play a constructive function in making certain regional stability.
