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Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram (Sp) announced increased involvement in the UN command when he visited the demilitarized zone on the border between South Korea and North Korea. - Norway has a clear interest in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The UN command does an important job for security in the area, says the defense minister.
In peacetime, the role of the UN command is to maintain the armistice agreement of 1953. Norway's involvement springs from the contribution of a mobile field hospital during the Korean War. Norway has been a member of the command since 1999, but has not participated in exercises since 2014. Norway will now resume participation with a limited number of staff officers in the command's annual exercises. Deputy head of the UN Command, Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay met Gram to discuss the UN Command's role and Norwegian contributions.
In a situation of increased unrest in the world, it is important that Norway stands together with the international community and shows a willingness to support South Korea against an aggressive neighbour, says Gram.
Strengthens security policy cooperation
During his visit to South Korea, Gram had talks with Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, who has recently been appointed as the new national security adviser to the South Korean president, where closer security cooperation was on the agenda.
It is in Norway's interest to establish a security policy dialogue with South Korea. The country is an important hub in a region where Norway needs to increase its understanding and knowledge of the security policy situation. With closer ties between Russia, China and North Korea, developments in the region are becoming increasingly important also for Norwegian security interests, says the defense minister.
Gram also met Han Kyoung-Ho, Deputy Minister of Defense for the Department of Defense Materiel (DAPA). The topic of the conversation was opportunities for enhanced security and defense industrial cooperation within the framework of NATO's partner cooperation and bilaterally. South Korea is the world's fifth largest exporter of defense equipment.
South Korea's partnership with NATO provides opportunities for closer cooperation. As a heavy industrial and technological power, South Korea is an important partner and contributor to NATO being able to maintain its technological edge, says Gram.
South Korea has long been one of Norway's most important trading partners in Asia. The Norwegian army uses South Korean artillery of the K9 type and the Norwegian Navy's logistics vessel KNM Maud was built in South Korea.
