Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met with the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun.
Minister Blair highlighted the decades-long defence relationship between Canada and the ROK, and noted that since the Korean War, in which over 26,000 Canadians served, Canada is one of the few nations that has maintained a continuous presence on the Korean Peninsula. Today, Canadians remain deployed on the Peninsula under the United Nations Command (UNC), including UNC's Canadian Deputy Commander, Lieutenant-General Derek Macaulay.
Minister Blair thanked Minister Kim for inviting Canada to co-host the second UNC Member States' Ministerial Meeting, at which Minister Blair reiterated Canada's steadfast and enduring commitment to the UNC.
As the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region grow, Minister Blair noted that Canada's military presence in the region is increasing. Canada's renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free, identifies the Indo-Pacific as a region of key strategic importance for Canada's future security and prosperity. Canada now deploys three warships per year to the Indo-Pacific region, enabling the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to conduct more activities and exercises with regional partners, including the ROK. To support Canada's long-term ability to deploy naval assets around the world, Canada is making major investments in the RCN. In June 2024, construction began on a new fleet of 15 River-class destroyers and in July 2024, Minister Blair announced that Canada is launching the process to acquire up to 12 conventionally-powered submarines.
During his visit to the ROK, Minister Blair expressed his grave concern with North Korea's threatening military posture, ballistic missile launches, and nuclear weapons development. He also expressed concerns over the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including the recent signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which negatively impacts security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. Minister Blair reaffirmed Canada's commitment to help maintain security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region through the UNC and Canada's monitoring of UN sanctions against North Korea under Operation NEON.
In 2022, Canada and the ROK enhanced their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which includes security and defence as one of its five key priorities. As part of the recently-released Action Plan on Implementing the Canada-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Minister Blair and Minister Kim discussed their commitment to strengthening their countries' bilateral defence relationship. Both Ministers welcomed the agreement to launch the High-Level Foreign and Defence Policy Dialogue, and the agreement to hold Canada-ROK Army Staff Talks.
Minister Blair and Minister Kim also discussed opportunities to increase collaboration between the Canadian and Korean Defence Industrial Bases. Minister Blair thanked Minister Kim for hosting the second Canada-ROK Joint Meeting (Materiel) in Seoul in January 2024, and noted that Canada looks forward to hosting the 3rd session of ROK-Canada Joint Meeting (Materiel) in 2025 in Ottawa. The Joint Meeting (Materiel) stems from Canada and ROK's Defence Materiel Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed in 2022, allowing for discussions on defence materiel and research and development interests and identifying potential cooperative activities. Minister Blair also welcomed the recent signing of an MOU between ROK's Defence Acquisition Program Administration and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.
During his time in the ROK, Minister Blair visited the Demilitarized Zone and met with Canadian personnel deployed to the UNC. He also attended a Defence Industry Engagement Showcase and met with the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration. In addition, Minister Blair spoke at the Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain Summit and addressed the Seoul Defence Dialogue earlier today.
Canada is committed to strengthening its close relationship with the ROK, including by enhancing defence partnerships, to maintain security on the Korean Peninsula and uphold the rules-based international order.
