South Korea and Australia announce security pact

The Jakarta Post, The Associated Press, Canberra | Thu, 03/05/2009 1:21 PM  

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak receives military honors on his arrival to Canberra, Australia, Thursday. Lee is on a three-day visit to Australia. AP/Daniel Munoz

Australia and South Korea announced Thursday a new joint security cooperation pact - as North Korea reportedly moves ahead with plans to test-fire a long-range missile. 

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the new statement on closer defense and security relations on Thursday in a joint press conference in the national capital, Canberra. 

Rudd called on North Korea to halt "threatening language" and return to six-country talks aimed at ending the country's nuclear program, and expressed his support for South Korea's efforts to deal with North Korean threats. 

"I think it would be very wise for the regime in Pyongyang to get back properly to the negotiating table through the six-party talks and to adopt a reasonable posture to bring about a long-term, peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula," Rudd told reporters. 

Lee recalled that Australian troops fought in the Korean War from 1950-53. 

"Compared to 50 years ago, the distance between Korea and Australia really is not a matter that will keep us away from each other," Lee said through an interpreter. 

"I believe that when we have a future-oriented relationship, security issues must also be discussed and through such cooperation in the security area, we can ensure the peace and security of the region," he added. 

Last month, South Korea's Defense Ministry said North Korea had recently deployed a new type of medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching northern Australia and the U.S. territory of Guam. 

The report comes amid speculation that the isolated regime also is preparing to test-fire another, longer-range missile capable of hitting Alaska. 

The two leaders also announced that their governments would begin negotiations in May on a bilateral free trade agreement. 

Lee is in Australia on a trip that also includes New Zealand and Indonesia. 

The new security pact aims to increase cooperation between South Korea and Australia on global disarmament and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It will cover a range of security threats including terrorism, drug smuggling and piracy as well as people and weapons trafficking. 

It also aims to increase joint military training exercises and exchanges. And it includes a separate agreement that would ensure safe sharing of classified military information such as defense industry contracts.