1. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, together with his Australian counterpart Gary Quinlan, held the third Republic of Korea-Australia strategic dialogue in Seoul on August 18. In the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to work together in the fields of foreign affairs, security and national defense as well as the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula; and on regional and global stages.

◦ The ROK-Australia strategic dialogue was first held in Seoul in 2012 after the two countries had decided to merge their previous consultative mechanisms of policy consultation and political-military consultation into the strategic dialogue mechanism. The strategic dialogue mechanism, along with the bilateral Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting mechanism launched in 2013, has since been establishing itself as a major consultative channel for bilateral strategic communication.

2. The two deputy ministers shared the view that the ROK and Australia have seen remarkable advances in their relations on the bilateral, regional and global levels by building upon Australia’s participation in the Korean War on the ROK side and the 54-year history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In particular, they agreed to work closely together to make a success of the second bilateral Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting and to draw up a substantial blueprint on cooperation on security and national defense pursuant to the “ROK-Australia Vision Statement” adopted in April 2014.

3. The two sides agreed that the ROK and Australia -- leading middle power countries in the Asia-Pacific region with competence and willingness -- will continue to cooperate with each other as best partners that contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and in the international society.

4. In particular, Deputy Minister Kim explained the ROK government’s firm position on and responses to North Korea’s recent landmine provocation; and the ROK government’s position on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs as well as its human rights situation. In response, Deputy Secretary Qinlan mentioned that Australia shares the view that North Korea’s provocative behavior poses a threat to not only the ROK but also Australia and all the other countries in the region. He reaffirmed the firm support of the Australian government for the ROK government’s position on North Korea and the North Korean nuclear issue.

◦ In addition, Deputy Secretary Qinlan mentioned his strong support for the ROK government’s trustpolitik diplomacy, including the plan for a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.

5. The two deputy ministers shared the view that MIKTA, by successfully playing a role as a bridge between developed and developing countries on major international issues, is seeing advances with its visibility enhanced in the international community as a leading consultative mechanism of middle power countries. They drew a common understanding that the ROK and Australia will continue to cooperate clolsely as like-minded countries on the international stage, including the ASEAN-related bodies, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS); and other major international mechanisms, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

◦ In particular, Deputy Minister Kim voiced high expectation for Australia’s role as MIKTA’s third chair country, taking over from the ROK, starting from September. Deputy Secretary Qinlan expressed willingness to make active efforts to hold the MIKTA summits’ gathering at an appropriate time within 2015 as agreed at the fifth MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Seoul in May.

6. The two sides also exchanged views on major issues of international concern, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other forms of terrorism, non-proliferation, cyber security, piracy eradication, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), climate change and development.

7. The ROK-Australia strategic dialogue came only two months after Deputy Secretary Qinlan took up his current post in early June. The meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity to reaffirm its usefulness and value as a channel for bilateral cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs, security and national defense as well as for strategic communication on key regional and global issues.


* unofficial translations