| Nuri Sufri |
THE potential for Brunei defence acquisition is seen as “Korea has invested in developing our (Korea) defence system and is now exporting its assets to many countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines”, said Cho Won-myung, the South Korean Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam.
This was revealed during the opening of the ship tour yesterday onboard the Choi Young, a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer of the South Korean Navy at the Muara Port.
The ship will be participating in the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism (MS & CT) Exercise.
The exercise is co-hosted by Brunei and Singapore, which is scheduled to take place from May 2-12, sees a total of 18 participating countries comprising Asean member states and its dialogue partners. It will be held at a fictitious sea dubbed the South Equatorial Region Sea Lane of Communication (SLOC).
Captain An Sangmin (5th left) and Cho Won-myung, the South Korean Ambassador to Brunei Darus-salam (centre) in a group photo onboard the Choi Young with the embassy staff members and Korean Navy personnel. – JAMES KON
Speaking to the Bulletin, the ambassador shared his views on the Korean Navy participating in the exercise where he explained, “Following the visit by the ROK Ship, Yi Sun-Shi last year, another destroyer Choi Young came this year to participate in the ADMM-Plus co-hosted by Brunei.”
He expressed his firm belief that the visit by the ROK ship and navy will prove to be meaningful based on the possibility of expanding “bilateral relationships between both countries into military and defence cooperation”, and it can “contribute to regional security and stability through ROK-Brunei bilateral cooperation, especially in counterterrorism.”
Touching on the Brunei-Korea ties, the ambassador said, “Korea is hoping to further expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation with our old friend, Brunei. I think that His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s visit to Korea in 2014 served as an opportunity to upgrade our countries’ relationship.”
“Brunei is located in a strategically important region between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The Korean government is expecting to expand both high-level and working-level exchanges and cooperation such as joint-exercise or education and training,” he added.
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