SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3 – 4 December 2012 – The Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat made an official visit to the Republic Of Korea to further enhance defence cooperation between both countries. Accompanying the Deputy Minister during the working visit was Permanent Secretary, Colonel (Rtd) Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham bin Pg Haji Mohamad, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Brunei Darussalam to Republic of Korea His Excellency Dato Haji Harun bin Haji Ismail and other defence officials.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister paid a courtesy call on the Republic of Korea’s Vice Minister of National Defense, His Excellency Lee Young Geol. During the call, both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive and cordial defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Korea. It is hoped that this will pave the way for cooperation especially on areas of science and technology, defence industry and exchange of visits.
In the agenda of the call, both countries discussed the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM-Plus Meeting to be held in Brunei Darussalam next year. They also discussed Brunei’s hosting of the 1st ADMM-Plus Human Assistance and Disaster Relief/Military Medicine (HADR/MM) Exercise that will be held in Brunei Darussalam in June 2013. The Deputy Minister of Defence also extended invitation to the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and the country’s defence industry for the 4th BRIDEX in 2013.
Both leaders continued their discussions in a working lunch hosted by His Excellency Lee Young Geol. During the two-day visit, the Deputy Minister also visited the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsangu, Seoul. Brunei Darussalam established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea in 1984. Defence relations between the two countries have been positive, bilaterally and multilaterally, including exchange of visits (defence exhibitions) and ship visits.
