Defense ministers of Korea and Cambodia meet in Siem Reap

Defense

Published: 25 Nov. 2022, 10:25

Defense ministers of Korea and Cambodia meet in Siem Reap

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, center, and his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Banh, attend an honor guard ceremony prior to their talks in Siem Reap during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on Nov. 24. [YONHAP]

The defense chiefs of Korea and Cambodia held talks in the Southeast Asian country on Thursday to discuss regional security and cooperation in military logistics and other areas, Seoul's defense ministry said.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Banh, met in Siem Reap during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

Lee said the security situation on the Korean Peninsula is "grave" due to the North's recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch and its preparations for a nuclear test, while expressing gratitude over Cambodia having called for the North to comply with U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Banh, who doubles as deputy prime minister, said in turn that Cambodia will continue to implement UNSC sanctions against the North given that the regime's nuclear and missile threats pose a challenge to regional security, according to the ministry.

Lee noted that Seoul will implement its recently unveiled Indo-Pacific strategy in "harmonious" cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, the regional bloc's broad vision for regional cooperation.

Banh expressed hopes that an arrangement will be signed to expand opportunities for Cambodian military officers to receive education in Korean military institutions and expand exchanges between the armies of the two countries.

Following the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on U.N. peacekeeping operations and Korea's provision of engineering equipment to Cambodia.

Yonhap