Prime Minister Han Meets Philippine Foreign Minister... "Blood Ally Who Sent Troops in the Korean War"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Enrique Manalo, the Philippine Foreign Minister, who is on an official visit, at the Government Seoul Office on the 7th.

Prime Minister Han said, "The Philippines was the first Asian country to dispatch troops to the Korean War as a blood ally," adding, "Our people will never forget the sacrifice and dedication of the Philippine soldiers."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is meeting with Enrique Manalo, the Philippine Foreign Minister, at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th.
[Photo by Prime Minister's Office] [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Philippines sent the largest number of troops among Asian countries to the Korean War, totaling 7,420 personnel, and was the first member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish diplomatic relations with Korea.

Prime Minister Han also praised the cooperation between the two countries in the labor sector, noting that 100 Filipino domestic workers participating in the pilot project for foreign domestic workers arrived the day before.

He further emphasized, "It is important for the international community to send a firm and united message to prevent North Korea from engaging in bold provocations," and requested the Philippines to play an active role in this regard at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October.

Minister Manalo expressed gratitude for Korean companies' contributions to infrastructure development in the Philippines and said, "We will carefully consider the issues of interest to Korea."

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as supply chains, defense, energy, and climate change, and also shared the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety, and maritime order in the South China Sea, according to the Prime Minister's Office.