The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the European Union (EU) held the 1st ROK–EU Security and Defence Dialogue in Brussels on November 12.

The Dialogue was co-chaired on the ROK side by Mr. Youn Jong Kwon, Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Major General Jung Sung-hoon, Military Representative to NATO and the EU at the ROK Mission in Belgium, and on the EU side by Ms. Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

During the Dialogue, the two sides shared assessments of the current international security environment and discussed ways to implement the ROK–EU Security and Defence Partnership.

This Dialogue marked the first security and defence dialogue held to implement the ROK–EU Security and Defence Partnership adopted in November last year. On the ROK side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense jointly served as co-chairs, while the EU side was represented by the EEAS. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Cyber Security Center of the National Intelligence Service participated in the meeting.

※ The ROK–EU Security and Defence Partnership is a non-legally binding political document encompassing cooperation across 15 security and defence areas, including international peace and crisis management, maritime security, cyber security, hybrid threats, strategic communications and foreign information manipulation and interference, critical infrastructure, counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism, arms control and non-proliferation, space security and defence, education and training in security and defence, defence initiatives, peace mediation and conflict prevention, economic security related to security and defence, trafficking in persons and other transnational organized crimes, and women, peace and security.

The two sides agreed that the Dialogue was both timely and important, given the geopolitical environment in which security in Europe and the Asia-Pacific is increasingly interconnected. They agreed to continue advancing cooperation across key areas, including the defence industry, arms control and non-proliferation, cyber security, and maritime security.

The two sides also welcomed the tangible progress achieved this year, including the holding of three ROK–EU policy consultations on arms control and non-proliferation, space, and cyber security, as well as EU participation in the multinational naval exercise Bell Buoy hosted by the ROK Navy. They agreed to further strengthen joint efforts to address growing global security challenges based on the ROK–EU Security and Defence Partnership.