Text Fwd: Seoul to seek support at Asian security summit

Korea Times
Seoul to seek support at Asian security summit
06-03-2010

Replica of sunken patrol ship: Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, on the rostrum, delivers a speech at the opening of a security-themed section of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. The section includes a life-size replica of the patrol ship “Chamsuri-357,” seen in the background, which sank in 2002 during a naval skirmish against North Korea. / Korea Times By Jung Sung-ki Staff reporter President Lee Myung-bak begins a two-day trip to Singapore today to attend a regional security summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young embarked on a three-day trip to Singapore Thursday to attend the conference, amid full-fledged efforts to seek support from the international community over the sinking of the Navy ship Cheonan in March. President Lee will hold a summit Saturday with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and give a keynote speech at the 9th Asia Security Summit on Korea's commitment to regional peace and security, and economic growth, Cheong Wa Dae said. "The speech will focus on the country's rise from the devastation of the 1950-1953 Korean War and the goal to assume a greater role in the international community," the office said. The security forum, inaugurated in 2002, will draw defense ministers of 28 countries, including the United States, China and Japan. The event is organized by the London-based think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Minister Kim plans to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and other nations on the sidelines of the meeting. "Minister Kim will deliver a speech titled 'Asia-Pacific Security and Partnerships' and ask for support from regional allies over the Cheonan issue," the ministry said in a news release. The security summit will, in particular, help explain the background of the sinking of the warship and solicit support from the international community, it added. A multinational investigation team concluded last month that North Korea was behind the sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan in waters near the disputed inter-Korean sea border. North Korea has denied the allegation, threatening to cut all ties with South Korea. Seoul announced a set of steps in retaliation, including the resumption of psychological warfare programs and the staging of massive naval exercises with the U.S. Navy.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr