Defence Minister welcomes RoK counterpart in Hanoi

During talks with Minister Song Young-moo following a welcome ceremony in Hanoi on June 4, Lich said the visit will facilitate the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation through 2030 signed in April 2018 between the two defence ministries.

It will also help maintain good ties between the two countries and armies, contributing to strengthening political trust between the two peoples, he said.

Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission, expressed support for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and affirmed the importance that Vietnam attaches to stable and long-term ties with the RoK.

Song, for his part, said the RoK appreciates Vietnam’s position and central role in ASEAN as well as the Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is given importance and considered a bridge for the RoK in launching the New Southern policy in the region, he said, adding that during President Moon Jae-in’s Vietnam visit in March this year, both sides committed to effectively promoting cooperation fields as agreed by the two nations.

At the talks, both sides agreed to bolster bilateral defence cooperation in the near future in human resources training, national defence industry, search for remains of servicemen missing in action, and addressing post-war bomb and mine consequences.

They also discussed issues regarding regional and global security.

Concluding the talks, the two defence minister witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on logistics support in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, natural disaster humanitarian and support between the two defence ministries.

Minister Song Young-moo is in Vietnam from June 3-5.