S. Korea, Australia to boost ties in security, defense fields

SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Australia agreed Friday to expand "substantial cooperation" not only in economy and trade but also security and defense sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said after talks between the two nations' top diplomats.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, on a trip to the Pacific nation, also called for
Canberra's support for Seoul's efforts to secure a stable supply of natural
resources in the meeting with his counterpart Stephen Smith, the ministry added.
"The ministers expected that the two countries' economy and trade relations will
deepen and develop once the two sides push for a free trade agreement on a full
scale," it said in a press release.
"They decided to strengthen substantial cooperation in security and defense to
develop their key alliance in the region," it added.
The Australian minister backed South Korea's position on the North Korean nuclear
issue and inter-Korean ties, the ministry said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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