Korea, Australia discuss strategy, defense and Aukus during two-plus-two talks

Korea and Australia held a “two-plus-two” meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Melbourne on Wednesday, exchanging views on each country's Indo-Pacific strategies, defense-related issues and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

From left, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defense Minister Richard Marles, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Shin Won-sik speak during a press conference after the two plus two meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Korea and Australia held a “two-plus-two” meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in Melbourne on Wednesday, exchanging views on each country's Indo-Pacific strategies, defense-related issues and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the region at large.

The two sides also touched upon the possibility of Korea becoming a partner of the Aukus alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The meeting was attended by Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles.

This is the sixth two-plus-two meeting between Korea and Australia. The previous talks were held two years and 10 months ago in September 2021. The latest meeting was initially scheduled for October last year but was postponed due to circumstances on the Australian side.

Aside from the United States, Australia is the only country with which Korea regularly holds two-plus-two meetings at the ministerial level.

Cho and Shin also met separately with their counterparts and will hold talks later in the day with Korean companies in Australia and young Koreans on working holidays there.

“The meeting will advance our shared interest in promoting peace and prosperity in our region, deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and globally and growing defense and security ties under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said the Australian government in a press release last Monday. “Australia and the Republic of Korea are closely aligned partners with a strong relationship underpinned by a significant and complementary trading relationship and vibrant people-to-people links.”

During the two-plus-two meeting, the foreign and defense ministers of Korea and Australia discussed the possibility of Korea participating in one of the two "pillars" of the Aukus security partnership, Shin said after the meeting during a press conference.

Aukus is a military alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, launched in September 2021 to keep China in check in the Indo-Pacific region. It consists of two key pillars: Pillar I, supporting Australia in acquiring conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, and Pillar II, for cooperation in high-tech areas.

In March, a U.S. official said that Korea is one of a handful of countries considered potential partners for cooperation in Pillar II of Aukus, including high-tech areas such as quantum computing, AI and hypersonic equipment.

Australia and Korea "recognized each other as important partners in realizing the Indo-Pacific strategy" during the meeting, said Cho during the press conference after the meeting. The Korean Foreign Minister added that the two-plus-two meeting is an "important milestone in strengthening our partnership based on liberal democracy and mutual trust."

Cho and Shin are on a weeklong visit to Australia and met with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday. In the meeting, the two sides emphasized the importance of Seoul-Canberra ties.

“Korea is a crucial regional partner for Australia,” Albanese wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the meeting. “Our two countries are working together toward an open, stable and prosperous region.”

Cho also paid tribute at the Australian National Korean War Memorial in Canberra on Monday, paying respects to the 17,164 Australian troops who fought in the Korean War (1950-53).

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]