22nd Shangri-La Dialogue to Be Held; Director General for Defense Policy to Attend Instead of Acting Minister

"Director General Attends Instead of Minister
Considering Security and Political Situation"

The 22nd Asia Security Summit, also known as the "Shangri-La Dialogue" and often referred to as the Davos Forum of international security, will be held for three days starting on May 30. This year, instead of Kim Sunho, the Acting Minister of National Defense, Cho Changrae, Director General for Defense Policy, will participate and discuss defense and defense industry cooperation with key participating countries.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on May 29 that Cho Changrae, Director General for Defense Policy, will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, which will take place in Singapore from May 30 to June 1. The Asia Security Summit is a multilateral security conference organized annually since 2002 by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in the United Kingdom, bringing together defense ministers, senior military officials, and security experts from major countries in Asia and Europe.

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This is the first time since 2004 that the Minister (or Acting Minister) will not be attending the Shangri-La Dialogue. The Ministry of National Defense explained, "This year, considering the current grave security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the domestic political situation, the Director General for Defense Policy will lead the delegation on behalf of the Acting Minister. The Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will also accompany the delegation to conduct military diplomacy with allied and friendly nations."

During the summit, Cho Changrae will attend the plenary session and hold meetings with high-level officials from major countries, including members of the U.S. Congress, the Director General for Defense Policy of Japan, the Deputy Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Industry of Australia, the Deputy Minister of National Defense of Canada, the Deputy Minister for Strategic Assessment and Planning of the Philippines, and the Deputy Minister of National Defense of Poland. These meetings will assess the regional security situation, including issues on the Korean Peninsula, and discuss practical ways to advance defense and defense industry cooperation with these countries.

This year, the Shangri-La Dialogue is expected to bring together around 40 countries, including South Korea, the United States, and Japan.