ROK-NATO to Strengthen Defense Cooperation

First meeting between Defense Minister Kim and Secretary General Rasmussen

The ROK Defense Minister Kim, Kwan Jin met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 12 April and discussed the current Korean Peninsula situation and ways to strengthen mutual cooperation.

During this meeting, which was the first official meeting between the ROK Defense Minister and the NATO Secretary General, Minister Kim explained the heightening tension situation on the Korean Peninsula caused by North Korea's provocation threats such as its nuclear and missile provocations, and the ROK government and military's readiness posture against these threats. 

 Defense Minister Kim, Kwan Jin shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 12 April. 

In addition, Minister Kim thanked Secretary General Rasmussen for the continuous support provided by NATO to the ROK with regard to the ROK's North Korea policy, and asked for NATO's continuous support towards ROK policies as the representative security organization of the international community.

It has been reported that, during the meeting, Secretary General Rasmussen stated, "NATO is also very concerned about North Korea's recent activities, and North Korea should immediately stop additional threatening acts by observing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

Secretary General Rasmussen also expressed his gratitude for the ROK's provincial reconstruction team missions in Afghanistan and for the ROK's monetary support, and asked for the ROK's continuous interest and support towards the transitioning of the public security mission to Afghan forces.

An MND official stated, "In addition to these issues, Minister Kim and Secretary General Rasmussen agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields based on the Individual Partnership Cooperation Program (IPCP), which was signed by the ROK and NATO in September 2012, and, in particular, shared the consensus to advance the level of cooperation between NATO and the ROK Defense Ministry in the field of cyber security."