Maritime security is the main content at the Seoul Defense Dialogue Forum.

On September 5, a VNA reporter in the Republic of Korea interviewed Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, who mentioned the main contents of the 8th Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) at the deputy ministerial level taking place in the capital Seoul.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue Forum has a common theme, which is to talk about security in the Asia-Pacific region and especially emerging issues in each period.

This year, the Seoul Defense Forum brought together many leaders of defense ministries from various countries, especially those in the Asia-Pacific region, and featured a keynote speech by the Indian Defense Minister.

The Deputy Minister said that the first content to be discussed at this forum is the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula with achievements and results gained in the past few years, especially the role of Vietnam and Singapore in organizing the US-North Korea Summits which is also highly appreciated.

In addition, the forum will also address many difficulties to achieve true peace and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Vietnam supports South Korea's comprehensive defense cooperation with ASEAN

The second topic that many scholars and defense leaders are interested in is maritime security. Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh emphasized that there are currently many concerns about the serious violation of international maritime law and the use of force and militarization of the world's common maritime areas, violating the rights of coastal countries and affecting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Assessing the opinions of delegates on maritime security and the East Sea issue at the ASEAN-Korea Deputy Defense Ministers' Meeting held on the afternoon of September 4 in Seoul, Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said that this conference has been held seven times so far and is increasingly valued, as demonstrated by the presence of all Deputy Defense Ministers of ASEAN countries as well as of Korea.

According to the Deputy Minister, similar to the SDD, the ASEAN-Korea Deputy Defense Ministers' Meeting also raised many security issues related to Korea and ASEAN issues, in which the East Sea was raised as a common concern of ASEAN countries as well as the international community, including Korea.

Delegates were concerned about the threat to the international legal system on maritime and aviation security and safety, as well as militarization and pressure-based actions.

Delegates also expressed concern about the fact that the normal economic activities of coastal states on the basis of international law within their jurisdiction and sovereign rights are not respected by other countries, which harms peaceful activities at sea, heats up the regional situation, and threatens freedom and safety of navigation and aviation.

The Deputy Minister said this was the common opinion of ASEAN Deputy Defense Ministers as well as that of Korea, and emphasized that all other countries in the world share similar concerns.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said that cyber security was also a topic discussed at this forum. This is not a new issue but it is developing very quickly and threatening the peace and stability of the region as well as all countries.

In the thematic session on September 4, the Vietnamese delegation delivered a speech on cyber security, highlighting the important role of international cooperation, including defense cooperation, in efforts to overcome the consequences and challenges of cyber security as well as common security issues.

According to the Deputy Minister, in that context, the general trend of the conference is to try to find frank voices, objectively present challenges and together have a common voice of the international community on emerging security issues such as peace on the Korean Peninsula, maritime security, cyber security and many other defense issues./.