Holding the Korea-NATO Policy Consultation... Urging Support for the Korean Peninsula Peace Regime and Northeast Asia Peace Cooperation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The 11th Korea-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy Consultation was held virtually on the 30th, with Jeong Byeong-ha, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' International Organizations Bureau, and Bettina Cadenbach, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political and Security Policy, serving as chief representatives.

Since Korea joined NATO as a 'Global Partner' in 2006, policy consultations have been held annually since 2008. The 10th meeting was held in October 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. The NATO Global Partners include a total of eight countries: Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mongolia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Through this consultation, both sides enhanced mutual understanding of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and Europe, and broadly discussed agendas such as ways to promote cooperation between the two sides. Additionally, the Korean side explained key policies including the establishment of a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asia peace cooperation platform, requesting NATO's support and endorsement.

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Furthermore, both sides agreed to continue cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, counterterrorism, disaster relief, and support for Afghanistan's reconstruction. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official evaluated, "Sharing values such as peace, democracy, and human rights, Korea and NATO have created an opportunity through this consultation to further enhance cooperation between Korea and NATO."

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