Australia, South Korea discuss AUKUS partnership, 'evolving threat' from North Korea

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Australian and South Korean foreign and defense ministers held a "two plus two" meeting on Wednesday to discuss a myriad of bilateral regional issues ranging from Seoul's potential inclusion in a regional security partnership to security cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles met with their South Korean counterparts Cho Tae-yul and Shin Won-sik in Melbourne, which marked the first such high-level gathering between the two countries in over two years, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

South Korea's potential participation in part of the AUKUS security partnership was among the agenda items the two sides discussed.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin, at a joint press conference after the meeting, said that Seoul's possible participation in minilateral security partnership, comprising Australia, Britain and the US, will contribute to "regional peace and stability."

Launched in September 2021, the AUKUS partnership has drawn attention in South Korea and Japan, whose inclusion is under consideration by AUKUS members to cooperate in high-tech areas, known as the Pillar 2, which covers quantum computing, artificial intelligence and hypersonics.

The partnership is largely seen as a group of like-minded countries formed to counter China's growing influence.

Echoing a similar view, Australian Defense Minister Marles described Seoul as a "values-sharing" country with which Canberra has a strategic alignment.

"As AUKUS Pillar 2 develops, I think there will be opportunities in the future," Marles added.

- 'North Korea's evolving military threats'

Citing the mutual participation in last year's multilateral Talisman Sabre exercise and Korea's Freedom Shield exercises, Shin said the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further developing the bilateral future-oriented relationship, including enhancing the joint military training.

The two countries, he went on to say, also discussed a host of issues of common interest across the board, from expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to the defense industry and efforts to sternly address North Korea's "evolving military threats."

Top South Korean diplomat Cho said the two countries agreed to collaborate in blocking "North Korea's access to funding for its illicit nuclear and missile development and to thwart illegal activities, such as arms trading between Russia and North Korea."

"Our Australian counterparts have expressed their steadfast support for enhancing the human rights of North Koreans and for our policies aimed at reunification," he said through an interpreter.

Australian Foreign Minister Wong called Russia's "provision of materials" to Pyongyang in violation of UN sanctions resolutions, "destabilizing" peace and security.

"It is important for us to not only express solidarity with the Republic of Korea, in the face of this aggression but also to call out Russia's behavior as irresponsible and destabilizing," Wong said.

Cho and Shin also held separate bilateral talks with their respective counterparts. The South Korean ministers have been on a weeklong visit to Australia.