Korea discusses AUKUS participation with Australia
Korea’s potential participation in part of the AUKUS security partnership was among the agenda items it discussed with Australia during a two plus two meeting between their foreign and defense chiefs Wednesday, the Korean defense minister said.
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik made the remark during a joint press conference, noting that his country’s possible participation in the minilateral security partnership, comprising Australia, Britain and the United States, will contribute to regional peace and stability.
“During today’s meeting, we discussed the possibility of partnering with the AUKUS Pillar 2,” Shin said through an interpreter in response to a reporters’ question at the livestreamed joint press conference held after the ministers’ talks in Melbourne.
“We do welcome that the (AUKUS) members are considering Korea as a Pillar 2 partner. Korea’s differentiated science and technology capabilities will contribute to the peace and stability of the development of the AUKUS Pillar 2 and regional peace,” Shin said.
The AUKUS partnership, launched in September 2021, has drawn attention in Korea after a U.S. official in March mentioned Korea and Japan as potential partners under consideration by AUKUS members to cooperate in high-tech areas, known as the Pillar 2, which covers quantum computing, artificial intelligence and hypersonics.
Whether the topic would be discussed at Wednesday’s two plus two meeting had been a focus of attention.
AUKUS is largely seen as a group of like-minded countries formed to counter China’s assertiveness.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also echoed the point, describing Korea as a values-sharing country with which his country has strategic alignment.
“As AUKUS Pillar 2 develops, I think there will be opportunities in the future,” Marles said.