South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched a new bilateral defense ministerial dialogue on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said, as Seoul pushes to cement ties with the regional bloc under its signature New Southern Policy. Defense Minister Suh Wook and his ASEAN counterparts held the inaugural session of the ASEAN-ROK Informal Defense Ministers Meeting via video links to discuss regional security and other pending bilateral issues, the ministry said. ROK stands for South Korea's formal name, the Republic of Korea. At the session, Suh unveiled Seoul's action plan for defense cooperation with the 10-member regional bloc, which consists of various joint tasks related to maritime security, cybersecurity, disaster responses, peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism efforts and other areas. The ministry said the action plan seeks to pursue "harmonious" defense cooperation between Seoul's New Southern Policy and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific -- the regional bloc's broad vision for regional cooperation anchored in the ASEAN centrality. During the meeting, ASEAN defense officials expressed support for South Korea's diplomatic efforts to achieve denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to the ministry. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, South Korea and the ASEAN agreed Wednesday to deepen trade ties to cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and make efforts to increase the supply of vaccines. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi virtually to share ideas on ways to maintain their supply chain, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. During the meeting, ASEAN acknowledged that South Korea's New Southern Policy meant to expand trade with Southeast Asian nations has contributed to the region's economy. South Korea has sought stronger economic ties with Southeast Asian countries to reduce its heavy reliance on large markets, like the United States and China, and to foster new growth drivers. Outbound shipments to ASEAN came to $49.2 billion in the first half of 2021, setting a fresh high for the period. South Korea and ASEAN agreed to make efforts to guarantee free travel of vaccinated businessmen to maintain trade amid the pandemic. The sides will venture into ways to cooperate in the production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Asia's No. 4 economy also vowed to spare no efforts for the full implementation of the upcoming major trade agreement that accounts for one-third of the world's gross domestic product. In November, members of ASEAN, along with its dialogue partners — South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand — inked the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China, Japan, Singapore and Thailand have completed their domestic procedures. — Agencies
