S. Korea, Canada bolster strategic partnership
South Korea and Canada are set to strengthen strategic partnerships in defense and critical mineral sectors amid the rising geopolitical uncertainty.
According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won met with Weldon Epp, assistant deputy minister of the Indo-Pacific division at Global Affairs Canada, in the capital city of Ottawa on Friday. The two parties agreed to further develop their achievements in five core areas of cooperation -- international order, national security, economy and technology, climate change and energy security and culture.
Notably, the two countries will boost defense cooperation, including Canada's ongoing next-generation submarine acquisition project. In the critical minerals sector, they decided to hold a '2+2 Economic and Security Dialogue' within the year to maintain collaboration on key economic security issues, such as supply chains.
In response to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations and illegal military ties with Russia, both sides vowed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including through NATO, as well as continue diplomatic efforts to restore peace in Ukraine.
Addressing the recent US-imposed tariffs on Canada, Chung urged the Canadian government to ensure that Korean companies operating there can proceed with their facility construction and production plans without disruptions.
The two countries will also hold the first Korea-Canada Indo-Pacific dialogue this year to share their Indo-Pacific strategies and deepen cooperation between their coast guards for maritime security in the North Pacific.
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