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This is the first visit of an Indian defence
minister to South Korea and is at the invitation
of his counterpart, Kim Tae-young.
"The visit is part of India’s Look
East Policy and a wide range of issues including
defence cooperation for peace and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region and bilateral cooperation
in research and development for manufacture of
military equipment will figure prominently during
the discussions between Antony and the top leadership
of South Korea," a defence ministry statement
said.
Antony will be accompanied by a high-level delegation
including Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Vice
Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik, Dr
Prahlada and Mr Sundaram Krishna.
The Indian delegation will also visit some of
South Korea's defence establishments.
Antony’s visit has been planned as a follow-up
of the joint declaration issued during the state
visit of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak
to New Delhi in January when it was decided to
elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic
partnership.
The foundation for the India-South Korea defence
relations was laid in 2005 when the two countries
signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
cooperation in defence, industry and logistics.
Yet another MoU on cooperation between the Coast
Guards of the two countries was signed in March
2006.
India had played a major role at the conclusion
of the Korean war in 1953 when it deployed a brigade
of troops to the UN peacekeeping mission that
supervised the armistice that brought the conflict
to an end.
(IANS)
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