19th Korea-France Military Exchange Meeting: "North Korea, a Global Threat Beyond the Korean Peninsula"

South Korea and France held a military exchange meeting and reached a consensus that North Korea's threats have become a serious global security concern extending beyond the Korean Peninsula.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on June 11 that the 19th Korea-France Military Exchange Meeting was held at the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. The Korea-France Military Exchange Meeting is a regular meeting at the general officer (major general) level, established to enhance understanding of security situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe, as well as to strengthen bilateral military cooperation. This year marks the 19th meeting since its inception in 2002.

This meeting was attended by Kwon Youngmin, Director of Strategic Planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Air Force Major General), and Patrick Baglio, Director of International Cooperation at the French Joint Chiefs of Staff (Army Brigadier General), as the respective heads of delegation. Discussions focused on sharing the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, introducing France's new Indo-Pacific strategy, evaluating the outcomes of bilateral cooperation, and discussing future directions, all aimed at strengthening mutual military exchange and cooperation.

In particular, during the meeting, both sides expressed concern over the enhancement and modernization of North Korea's military capabilities due to expanded cooperation between Russia and North Korea. They agreed that North Korea's threats have become a serious global security concern extending beyond the Korean Peninsula. In addition, they reaffirmed the need for a joint response from the international community regarding this issue.

Baglio commented on the meeting, stating, "It was a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the need for security cooperation between European and Indo-Pacific countries and to discuss concrete measures to realize this cooperation."

Meanwhile, the 20th Korea-France Military Exchange Meeting is scheduled to be held next year in Paris, France.