[Australia]: Message to Korea [SEC=SECRET]

[Owen]

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MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET ​

3 April 2007

Dear Minister Song, Now that I have concluded my official visit to the United States, therein lies the question of where's next? Which nation does Australia aspire to develop deep and meaningful relations with? So far we have had no communication with Korea, despite being the two foremost western-aligned nations in the Indo-Pacific. Australia aspires to have a deep defence relationship with Korea, collaborating on new technologies, as well as having economies which are more integrated, allowing for the free flow of trade between our nations. There is also opportunities for deeper people-to-people links and with Korean culture making waves across the globe, there are many opportunities for Australians to develop a stronger connection with Korea. Minister, I would deeply appreciate it if I could visit Seoul to have meetings with yourself and key stakeholders in Korea, as well as having the opportunity to visit Pyongyang and the former North as the first Australian official to step on that soil since high-ranking officers did during the Korean War. The Australian Government is eager to provide more overseas development assistance across the Indo-Pacific and despite the integration of the North and South, there are still many discrepencies in standards of living and infrastructure which would take decades to resolve. Even Germany still suffers from an east-west divide. This creates a perfect and obvious opportunity for Australian Aid to undertake projects within the former North. We are eager to find out what is needed and how we can help. I hope to hear from you soon. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

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John

 

[Owen]

John

 

[John]

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Security: Official - Sensitive. Encrypted communications, encrypted documents.​

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To: Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia Owen
Sender: Ji-woo Park, Aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Korean Empire
Subject: RE: Relations

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Dear Minister Rudd,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful letter addressed to Minister Song. The Minister is currently engaged in a series of meetings and has asked that I acknowledge receipt of your correspondence on her behalf.

Your reflections on the importance of the Korea–Australia relationship are greatly appreciated. As two like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific, there is indeed significant scope to deepen cooperation in the areas you highlighted, including defence, technology, trade, cultural exchange, and development assistance. Your proposal to visit Seoul for consultations has been noted with great interest.

Minister Song looks forward to reviewing your letter personally at the earliest opportunity, and we will be in touch to coordinate a suitable time for further discussions.

With kind regards,
Ji-woo Park
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Korean Empire