(As Delivered)
“Deploying Forces for International Security :
ROK’s Perspective”
* Speech delivered by H.E. Yoon, Kwang Ung, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea,
at the 5th IISS Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue) on June 3, 2006
(Introduction)
Thank you John.
Distinguished defense ministers, parliamentarians, senior representatives, scholars, members of respective delegations, ladies and gentlemen!
It is a great pleasure for me to have this meaningful opportunity to join all of you at the 5th Shangri-La Dialogue. Before I begin, I would like to thank John and his staff for all their devoted efforts in making this year's conference possible.
I would also like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Korean government, to extend my condolences to the people of Indonesia for the many lives lost from the recent, tragic earthquake. I understand that the Republic of Korea Government is planning to send transportation aircraft to Indonesia with relief supplies.
Today, in a speech titled ‘Deploying Forces for International Security: Republic of Korea’s Perspective,’ I would like to address you on the international security environment and the Republic of Korea’s security cooperation, as well as Korea's endeavors for world peace.
(The International Security Environment and Korea’s Participation in Peace Operations)
After the end of the Cold War, security concepts have expanded from a military dimension to that of a comprehensive one including non-military fields. Although traditional war threats at the world level are conceived to have diminished, various conflicts at the regional and local levels still remain. Such situations have led to increased demand for military international peacekeeping.
On the basis of a dynamic economic development seen recently, Asia-Pacific nations have pursued active international and regional exchanges and cooperation. However, traditional inter-state discord and confrontation still exist with newly rising security challenges. For example, there are transnational security challenges such as international terror, trafficking of drugs and weapons, along with major natural disasters that have emerged as pending issues to be coped with.
Therefore, in such an uncertain security environment, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea must be able to pro-actively respond to newly emerging forms of various security threats that challenge world peace while it must simultaneously conduct their traditional mission of deterring war on the Korean Peninsula.
During the tragic Korean War, the Republic of Korea was rendered assistance by the United Nations member states whose sacrifices, not least of which came from the United States, contributed to defending the freedom and democracy of Korea. The Republic of Korea has not forgotten that these many sacrifices have laid a foundation for it to rise from the ruins of war and accomplish the prosperity and development that it enjoys today. Korea and its people remember.
(ROK Armed Forces' Efforts to Contribute to World Peace)
For the past ten years, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces have actively participated in international peacekeeping activities such as efforts for peace and reconstruction as well as humanitarian relief, along with search and rescue activities for major disasters.
Since 1993, Korea’s Armed Forces have dispatched peacekeeping forces to ten locations such as Somalia, Angola, East Timor, and Western Sahara. Our missions there have been comprised not only of humanitarian efforts that include local reconstruction and medical aid, but also efforts to maintain security and establish peace. Korea’s most recent mission has been the participation in an international coalition to rebuild and establish peace in post-war Iraq and Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Korea’s Armed Forces have endeavored to actively take part in many efforts varying from prevention to relief and rescue activities concerning transnational natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis in South Asia.
(ROK’s Endeavors for Expanded Military Participation)
The Republic of Korea plans to diversify its efforts in acquiring capabilities to promptly and efficiently meet the demands for missions concerning regional security development as well as establishing international peace.
Currently, Korea is undergoing an effort to enact a new law that would ease the limitations of the currently existing law that affects overseas troop dispatch.
Furthermore, with prepared arrangements enabling rapid dispatch of troops upon contingency, Korea has raised its force system to the level requirements of the United Nations and will finalize its UN Stand-by Arrangement System in the near future. At the same time, an appropriately sized standing unit has been designated so that they can be trained and educated in advance to maintain a dispatch-ready posture.
Along with such efforts, mid, and long-term national policy studies on international peace and security are being made. The establishment of a ‘PKO Center’ is under consideration for the sharing of information and the maintenance of a systematic cooperative relationship with other related organizations.
Secondly, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces have added a disaster management support mission to their existing missions in order to respond more systematically and more efficiently to the recent frequency of major natural disasters. In order to realize this mission, we have taken measures to strengthen our disaster readiness and support capabilities. Moreover, in the near future Korea plans to implement a national defense disaster management system for times of peace, disaster, and war, under the umbrella of a pan-governmental management system.
With such efforts, Korea is also planning to establish a comprehensive cooperative response system for regional and international disasters by establishing a channel for information sharing and coordination for the management of required human resources, supplies, and equipment.
Before I conclude my presentation, I would like to take this opportunity to comment on how we may be able to further develop peace operations in the Asia-Pacific Region.
I believe that states in the Asia-Pacific Region, along with the member states of ASEAN, should promote an atmosphere and momentum for cooperation so as to better prepare for PKO activities and transnational natural disasters. Furthermore, the nations of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Region should explore specific methods and concepts for realistically and efficiently using military forces for peace activities.
In assisting such a discussion, a successful example to review would be the Nordic Coordination Arrangement for Military Peace Support through which five Northern European nations have been participating in supporting UN peace activities since 1997. A review of this example can be conducive to effective peace activities in the Asia-Pacific.
(Conclusion)
Ladies and Gentlemen!
As we face a new environment where comprehensive security is stressed, a valuable opportunity was given to me today in sharing with all of you the efforts of the Korean government and its Armed Forces regarding activities for world peace and stability as well as international disaster relief. Along with that, I have also taken a moment to look into the future and see how we can go forward together.
Furthermore, I had the privilege of briefly presenting my views on a need to establish a system for regional cooperation to effectively pursue peace activities in the Asia-Pacific.
Before I close, allow me to express my sincere hope that your respective wisdom, knowledge, and participation during the discussions of this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, will provide an earnest and practical approach to how we can together achieve international peace and stability.
Thank you very much for your attention.
