Seoul: Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho will not be attending the annual international security conference in Singapore this weekend, the defense ministry announced on Thursday. This decision comes as South Korea is on the brink of its presidential election, scheduled for next week.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho Chang-rae, the deputy defense minister for policy, is set to lead South Korea's delegation at the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue, which begins on Friday in Singapore. The decision for Cho to represent South Korea was made in light of the significant security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and the current domestic political climate.
Since 2004, South Korea's defense chief has consistently participated in this annual security forum, which facilitates discussions with counterparts from the United States and other major nations. However, Kim's absence this year suggests a strategic decision, given the upcoming change in government leadership, which might impact the efficacy of discussions with international counterparts.
During the forum, Cho is expected to hold discussions with a delegation of U.S. lawmakers and senior officials from Japan, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and Poland. The focus of these talks will be on regional security and defense cooperation, as stated by the ministry.
The defense ministry has been operating under acting leadership since December, following the resignation of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. His resignation came shortly after the former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief implementation of martial law.