Hanoi and Seoul Deepen Defence, Security, and Economic Cooperation
Vietnam–South Korea Leaders Pledge Closer Ties in Defence, Trade, and People-to-People Links
Seoul – 12 August 2025 (MT Team) : The state visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse to the Republic of Korea (RoK) has concluded with a landmark joint statement, setting a new course for the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit, held from August 10–13, marked a major milestone in bilateral relations and opened a new chapter in cooperation.
In the statement, General Secretary To Lam and RoK President Lee Jae Myung lauded the progress in relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1992, highlighting the significant upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. Both leaders reaffirmed that Vietnam and the RoK are each other’s leading and vital partners across multiple sectors.
They emphasized that achievements over the past three decades provide a solid foundation for advancing the partnership in a more substantive, effective, and mutually beneficial manner. The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in all fields to bring tangible benefits to their citizens, while contributing to peace, stability, and development regionally and globally.
To achieve this, Vietnam and the RoK will enhance high-level exchanges in diverse formats — from bilateral visits and multilateral meetings to virtual talks, phone communications, and written correspondence. Cooperation will be strengthened not only between Party, Government, and National Assembly channels but also at ministerial, provincial, and people-to-people levels.
The leaders also stressed the importance of promptly updating each other on the implementation of signed agreements, including the Action Programme for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two nations will advance substantive defence-security collaboration through expanded ministerial-level talks, deputy-minister strategic dialogues, and police conferences. Plans include increased delegation exchanges, closer maritime security cooperation, and joint training initiatives. The resumption of the Joint Committee on Defence Industry and Logistics will facilitate deeper collaboration in defence technology, industry projects, and partnerships between defence enterprises.
They also pledged to boost joint efforts in mine clearance, UN peacekeeping missions, sharing strategic intelligence, combating non-traditional security threats, and tackling transnational crime. Both sides will coordinate more closely on consular and judicial issues, including cases involving detained citizens.
This renewed commitment reaffirms Vietnam and the RoK’s determination to take their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new height, anchored in trust, mutual respect, and shared goals for the future
