S Korea to tighten ties with region

South Korea is attaching more importance to strengthening ties with Asean under its New Southern Policy as the country will host two special summits with Asean leaders next month, a senior official from South Korea says.

Koo Hong-seok, director-general of the department of Asean and Southeast Asian affairs attached to South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, said South Korea has a policy to seek more cooperation with Asean to promote the defence industry, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

However, South Korea does not yet have any plan for joint military drills with the Asean bloc, he said.

He added South Korea will host the 2019 Asean-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan on Nov 25-26 to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between the country and the region. On Nov 27, Busan will also host the inaugural Mekong-Republic of Korea Summit which involves leaders of Mekong River countries Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, as the current chair of Asean, will also attend the summits, Mr Koo Hong-seok said, adding South Korean President Moon Jae-in will join the Asean Summit which will be held in Bangkok on Nov 2-4.

More than 10,000 attendees, including leaders and delegations of Asean, the public and businesses, are expected to take part in the summits and other related events, said Park So-yeon, director-general for the protocol and planning division of the preparatory office, which is responsible for planning the summits.

North Korean leader Kim Jongun has been invited to join the summits, but his attendance has not been confirmed.