Photo: Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway, announced an increased commitment to the UN Command during his visit to the Demilitarised Zone on the border between South Korea and North Korea. (Photo: Ingrid Dåsnes / Ministry of Defence)
Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced an increased commitment to the UN Command during his visit to the Demilitarised Zone on the border between South Korea and North Korea. “Norway is interested in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The UN Command plays an important role in maintaining regional security,” said the defence minister.
In peacetime, the role of the UN Command is to maintain the 1953 Armistice Agreement. Norway’s engagement stems from its contribution to 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. The Deputy Commander of the UN Command, Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay, met with Gram for discussions on the role of the UN Command and Norway’s contributions.
“In a situation of increasing global unrest, it is crucial that Norway stands with the international community and demonstrates a willingness to support South Korea against an aggressive neighbour,” said Gram.
During his visit to South Korea, Gram held talks with Defence Minister Shin Won-sik, who has recently been appointed as the new National Security Advisor to the South Korean President, with closer security policy cooperation high 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 enhance its understanding and knowledge of the security situation. With closer ties between Russia, China, and North Korea, developments in the region are increasingly important to Norway’s security interests,” said the defence minister.
Gram also met with Han Kyoung-Ho, Vice Minister for the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA). The discussions focused on opportunities for enhanced security and defence industry cooperation within the framework of NATO’s partnership cooperation and bilaterally. South Korea is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of defence equipment.
“South Korea’s partnership with NATO presents opportunities for closer cooperation. As a major industrial and technological power, South Korea is a key partner and contributor to NATO maintaining its technological edge,” said Gram.
South Korea has long been one of Norway’s most important trading partners in Asia. The Norwegian Army uses South Korean K9 artillery, and the Navy’s logistics vessel KNM Maud was built in South Korea.