Defense chief says 'fundamental' solution to N. Korean threats lies on free, unified Korean Peninsula

SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said Wednesday the "fundamental" solution to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats lies on a free and unified Korean Peninsula during an annual security forum in Seoul.

Kim made the remarks at the Seoul Defense Dialogue that kicked off earlier in the day for a two-day run, bringing together some 900 security officials and experts around the world for discussions on regional and global security issues and challenges.

"The fundamental solution to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and North Korean human rights issues lies on establishing a free and unified Korean Peninsula," Kim said. "By spreading the value of freedom to the North, we will make change for North Koreans to desire freedom-based unification themselves."

The remarks came after President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a new vision for unification between the two Koreas last month that focuses on promoting freedom in addition to expanding access to outside information within North Korea.

The updated vision came amid increasingly strained cross-border ties in recent years due to North Korea's continued saber-rattling, highlighted by its launches of 37 ballistic missiles this year.

North Korea has been focusing on erasing unification references since its leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as those between two states hostile to each other.

This year's Seoul Defense Dialogue is joined by top defense officials, including Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair and Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee.

On the margins of the forum, the defense ministry hosted a working group session on space security, involving defense officials from over 30 countries and civilian space experts.

The session, which marked the third of its kind, discussed ways for international cooperation to deal with space-based threats and enhance awareness of the domain, the ministry said.

Ahead of the forum, the ministry also signed an initial agreement with the U.S. Space Force to participate in the U.S.-led Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) cell, conducting space domain awareness activities by utilizing civilian space monitoring systems around the world, it said.

The ministry said South Korea's participation in JCO will help the military better monitor North Korean spy satellite activities and ensure the stable operation of its space assets.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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