Minister Bill Blair 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.

ADDITIONAL INFO

United Nations Command Member States (ROK-UNCMS) Defense Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement

In Seoul, Minister Blair co-hosted the2nd ROK-UNCMS Defense Ministerial Meeting along with his South Korean counterpart, Minister Kim.

The 2nd “Republic of Korea – United Nations Command Member States (ROK-UNCMS) Defense Ministerial Meeting” was held in Seoul on September 10, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by Kim Yong Hyun, the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Bill Blair, the Minister of National Defense of Canada. Participants included defense ministers and representatives from the United Nations Command (UNC) and the 17 UNC Member States (Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

Defense ministers and representatives welcomed the admission of Germany as the 18th UNC Member State, and assured that the inclusion of Germany will contribute to the strength of UNC to respond to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) increasing and destabilizing actions.

The defense ministers and representatives discussed measures to strengthen cooperation among the ROK, UNC and its Member States. The defense ministers and representatives reaffirmed that UNC, established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 84 on July 7th 1950, has successfully contributed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula for over 70 years and will continue to carry out its duties and missions in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the 1953 Armistice Agreement.

Additionally, the defense ministers and representatives emphasized that UNC successfully integrated and commanded the combat and support forces voluntarily sent by UNC Member States during the Korean War, repelling the DPRK’s armed aggression and safeguarding the peace of the ROK.

The UNC Member States reaffirmed that the spirit and commitments of the 1953 Armistice Agreement continues to be necessary for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula today. In particular, the defense ministers and representatives acknowledged the roles of UNC, UNC Member States, and the ROK as the host nation in managing, implementing, respecting, and enforcing the Armistice Agreement. They concurred that the Armistice Agreement is an effective mechanism for maintaining the cessation of hostilities and ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Also, the defense ministers and representatives discussed ongoing security challenges. The participants strongly condemned the DPRK’s illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs which violate multiple United Nations resolutions, and seriously undermine international non-proliferation regimes. They also stressed the importance of the international community’s role in ensuring the full implementation of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In particular, the defense ministers and representatives expressed serious concern over military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, highlighted by the signing of the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, including weapons transactions and technological cooperation which constitute a violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. They urged Russia and the DPRK to immediately cease all such activities and abide by these resolutions.

The UNC Member States declared that they would remain united upon the renewal of hostilities or armed attack on the Korean Peninsula challenging the principles of the United Nations Charter and the security of the ROK. They also emphasized the necessity of dialogue as the path to an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The defense ministers and representatives agreed to increase information sharing and cooperation between the ROK, UNC, Combined Forces Command (CFC), and UNC Member States and to reinforce combined exercises and training in response to current security threats on the basis of the capacities and availability of the Member States. They also agreed to explore ways to further strengthen UNC as an enduring multilateral cooperation platform to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The defense ministers and representatives paid tribute to the noble sacrifices of the UN forces who fought “Under One Flag” to defend the ROK from DPRK aggression and during the Korean War, and confirmed that UNC has made substantial contributions to international peace and security through continued efforts to deter war on the Korean Peninsula.

The defense ministers and representatives expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Minister Kim and Blair in successfully hosting the 2nd ROK-UNCMS Defense Ministerial Meeting.