Sydney: Chang Ho-jin, foreign policy adviser to President Yoon Suk Yeol, has visited Australia to discuss cooperation in the security and defense industry, including Canberra’s frigate project, the presidential office said Tuesday. Chang’s visit spanned from Monday to Tuesday, where he engaged in discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Vice Minister of Defense Greg Moriarty, focusing on regional security issues and Australia’s military acquisition program.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the meetings, Chang highlighted South Korea’s advanced frigate capabilities and urged Australia to consider them in its ongoing frigate acquisition project. Earlier this year, in February, Australia announced its plan to acquire 11 new frigates for its Navy. South Korean, Japanese, German, and Spanish vessels have been identified as potential candidates for this acquisition.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that the discussions encompassed a range of security issues, with both nations agreeing
to collaborate towards achieving a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Additionally, Wong emphasized the talks on social media platform X, mentioning that they also addressed the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which poses a threat to regional stability.