A four-member South Korean Delegation visited the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) on November 17, 2016. The delegation was led by president of the South Korean Institute of Foreign Affairs & National Security (IFANS), Ambassador Shing Dong-ik. Other members of the delegation included: Mr. Wi, Minbok, Deputy Director and Ms. Cho, Min-Jeong Deputy Director. The delegation was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission from the South Korean Embassy, Mr. Kim, Jinwook.
The agenda of the meeting included discussion on regional security issues in the Korean Peninsula and South Asia, nuclear non-proliferation and the North Korean nuclear issue.
The session was opened by the Chairman BOG, ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood who welcomed the delegates warmly and briefed everyone regarding the topics to be discussed at the meeting. The Chairman described the relations between Pakistan and South Korea as cordial and historic in nature. He explained how these two countries while not being geographically adjacent, have several commonalities in terms of their strategic and regional security concerns. He informed the attendees about the rich Buddhist culture and history of South Korea and mentioned that the first accounts of contact between the Sub-continent and the Korean Peninsula date as far back as the 8th century. Both countries have comparative religious and cultural ideologies. The Chairman also highlighted the issues of mutual interest between Pakistan and South Korea such as the North Korean nuclear issue, the Sino-US relations and their impact on collective regional security, as well as the strengthening Pak-China ties with reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Chairman also mentioned the possibility of signing an MoU with IFANS.
