The South Korean and Australian defence ministers signed an agreement Wednesday to deepen military co-operation between the two countries through increased joint exercises. The move comes after the United States announced last month that it will increase its military presence in Australia and conduct more joint exercises across the northern Australian Outback as it counters a growing China, as well as the threat posed by North Korea to security in the Asia-Pacific region.
South Korean Defence Minister General Kim Kwan-jin and his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith, agreed during Wednesday's inaugural bilateral meeting to stage a regular new naval exercise starting next year.