Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha (third from left) announces the results of the Korea-Australia Foreign Affairs and National Defense ministerial meeting, in Seoul on Oct. 13. Pictured (from left) are Australian Minister for Defense Marise Payne, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Minister Kang and Minister for National Defense Song Young-moo. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
By Cho A-la and Lee Hana
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha and Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo met with their Australian counterparts, Ministers Julie Bishop and Marise Payne, in Seoul on Oct. 13.
The Australians had come to Seoul for the Korea-Australia Foreign Affairs and National Defense ministerial meeting. The two sides evaluated the relationship between their countries and affirmed that they had achieved the highest level of bilateral partnership.
In affirming the strength of their relations, the ministers also discussed measures that would help to further elevate their cooperative partnership to the next level.
Furthermore, they shared their concern over issues facing the Korean Peninsula due to escalating threats from North Korea, and strongly condemned the fact that Pyongyang has continued to violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Finally, the ministers stated that countries need to collectively direct their diplomatic efforts to ensure a complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantlement of Pyongyang's nuclear program in a peaceful manner.