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South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul shakes hands with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (left) on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, the Philippines, on Oct. 29 (local time). / Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul on Oct. 29 condemned a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as "a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement and an act of provocation by North Korea" at a gathering of defense chiefs from 11 ASEAN member states and other major countries, including the United States. While criticizing North Korea's repeated missile launches, he also emphasized the need for dialogue between the military authorities of the two Koreas to prevent accidental clashes.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in the Philippines, Kang said, "Last September, our service members were seriously injured by the explosion of a landmine planted by North Korea while carrying out their normal duties south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL)."

"Even more concerning is that, under these circumstances, we do not even have a channel of communication through which we can ask questions and seek clarification from each other," he said.

"Dialogue is the minimum safeguard against crises and the starting point for restoring trust," Kang said, expressing hope that North Korea would respond to South Korea's proposal for inter-Korean military talks and come to the negotiating table.

Kang also expressed concern over military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, as well as North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

"The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth year, has led to military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, supporting the advancement of North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities," he said.

"Even as we speak, North Korea is launching multiple missiles, threatening security on the Korean Peninsula and across the region."

Kang acknowledged that participating countries have built interoperability and experience in cooperation by identifying common security challenges and conducting joint exercises, but assessed that the security environment remains serious.

He also referred to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the foundations of peace and stability would become stronger when international norms, rather than force, guide relations between countries and shared principles are upheld.

He called for greater international cooperation to address increasingly complex threats.

"Threats are becoming more complex, but differences in national response capabilities and limitations in collective responses are making it difficult to effectively counter threats that cross borders," Kang said.

"We must strengthen each country's capabilities while building a closely connected network of cooperation that enables us to respond together."

As part of South Korea's contribution, Kang presented President Lee Jae Myung's initiative to build a coalition of countries making constructive contributions.

Under the initiative, South Korea aims to contribute to regional peace and stability by offering its capabilities and strengths as global public goods, while expanding trust through high-level exchanges and stronger bilateral communication.

Kang also expressed South Korea's intention to translate its commitment to international norms into action, building on the experience gained through joint maritime exercises between South Korea and ASEAN.

South Korea is scheduled to serve as a co-chair of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations starting next year.

"When countries share their respective strengths and cooperate in ways suited to the changing security environment, we can usher in a new renaissance of peace and stability in the region," Kang said.

"The Republic of Korea and ASEAN will continue that journey together."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol