“North Korea’s enhanced nuclear and missile capabilities pose a significant threat to the international community”
[Herald Economy – Reporters Yoon Ho and Moon Hye-hyun] On the occasion of attending the 2nd Korea-Canada Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) meeting, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek held preliminary talks with Canadian counterparts to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
On the 25th (local time), Minister Cho met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. Both sides agreed to utilize the intersection of Korea’s ‘interest-centered pragmatic diplomacy’ and Canada’s ‘principled pragmatic diplomacy’ to jointly develop a vision for bilateral diplomatic and security cooperation.
Minister Cho highlighted the excellent performance and timely supply capability of Korean submarines, emphasizing that Korea’s participation in Canada’s next-generation submarine project would greatly contribute to Canada’s economic revival and job creation.
Both ministers agreed that the two countries, with their complementary economic structures, could become optimal economic security partners as they jointly respond to supply chain crises. They committed to strengthening supply chain cooperation, including in energy and critical minerals, and discussed measures for a free trade alliance through agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) while recognizing the need for diverse connections among middle powers to address geopolitical uncertainties.
Minister Cho proposed Foreign Minister Anand visit Korea this year, to which Minister Anand responded positively by suggesting further discussions to set a specific date.
On the same day, Defense Minister Ahn held talks with Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty, stressing that Korea’s participation in Canada’s next-generation submarine project would go beyond mere arms exports to significantly advance strategic defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries. He underscored that Korea could be Canada’s optimal choice, especially given Canada’s mention of a long-term partnership in its recently announced ‘Defense Industry Strategy’.
During the subsequent Foreign and Defense (2+2) working luncheon, Minister Ahn remarked that the enhancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities poses a significant threat to the international community, and sought Canada’s support for South Korea’s North Korea policy aimed at establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and achieving North Korea’s denuclearization.