Action Plan for Enhanced Global and Security Cooperation Between Australia and the Republic of Korea
Revised version agreed by Australian and ROK Foreign Ministers in December 2009
1. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation and consultation on issues of common strategic interest in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Annual Foreign Ministers' meetings. |
a) DFAT |
a) MOFAT |
a) and b) High-level, regular consultations to deepen the bilateral relationship, including to continuously develop opportunities for cooperation under this Action Plan; and explore ways of addressing wider regional and global issues. |
| b) Optimise opportunities for regular bilateral Heads-of-Government meetings. |
b) PM&C / DFAT |
b) MOFAT |
| c) Hold Political-Military and Defence Policy discussions, and Senior Officials Talks, on an annual basis. |
c) DFAT / Defence |
c) MOFAT / MND |
c) To exchange information on strategic matters, defence policy directions, and regional security; and to explore opportunities for further cooperation under this Action Plan. |
| d) Continue to cooperate closely on the G20. |
d) PM&C/ Treasury/ DFAT |
d) MOSF/ MOFAT |
d) To advance shared Australia-ROK G20 objectives for 2010. |
| e) Continue to cooperate on developing responses to climate change and advancing international efforts to combat climate change. |
e) DFAT/DCC/DRET |
e) MOFAT |
e) To enhance domestic, regional and global efforts to combat climate change, including through cooperation in the G20, MEF, GCCSI and APP. |
| f) Cooperate and consult closely on regional architecture, including on the East Asia Summit and the Asia Pacific community (APc) initiative. |
f) DFAT |
f) MOFAT |
f) To enhance regional cooperation and integration, including by strengthening the EAS agenda and consulting closely to progress the APc initiative. |
| g) Consult closely on the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Vision Statement. |
g) DFAT |
g) MOFAT |
g) To encourage an effective implementation plan for the Vision Statement and achievement of its goals by 2020. |
| h) Seek opportunities through existing annual bilateral Defence Policy talks to discuss security developments and respective activites in Afghanistan. |
h) DFAT/ Defence |
h) MOFAT /MND |
h) To share experiences on deployments |
2. Law enforcement to combat transnational crime, including trafficking in illegal narcotics and precursors, people smuggling and trafficking, money laundering, counterfeiting currency and arms smuggling.
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Continue to consult and where mutually agreeable enhance operational cooperation, as outlined in the June 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Combatting Transnational Crime and Developing Police Cooperation, including sharing strategic and operational intelligence. |
AFP |
KNPA |
To increase operational cooperation and the exchange of criminal intelligence, and to develop intelligence linkages - all of which will, in turn, improve the speed and timeliness of engagement on key transnational crime issues. |
| b) Building on current AFP liaison out of Hong Kong, expand to include more A-based subject experts' visits to the ROK. |
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| c) Facilitate more ROK law-enforcement training in Australia and the region. |
AFP |
KNPA |
(c) and (d) To help develop the investigations capability of ROK law enforcement agencies. |
| d) AFP and KNPA to negotiate regarding possibility of AFP sending trainers to the ROK to deliver programs suited to KNPA needs. |
AFP |
KNPA |
| e) Work cooperatively bilaterally and with other Bali Process members to combat people smuggling and trafficking in persons in the Asia-Pacific region. |
DFAT/ DIAC |
MOFAT |
e) To advance regional cooperation through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. |
| f) Cooperate on investigations into transnational sexual exploitation and trafficking. |
AFP |
KNPA |
f) To help prevent transnational sexual exploitation and trafficking. |
g) Customs bilateral cooperation - areas for collaboration to include:
- a program (as agreed in 2009) of data exchange regarding dual-use goods; and
- exploration of opportunities to test interoperability and examine electronic submission of trade-related reporting requirements. |
Customs and Border Protection |
Korea Customs Service (KCS) |
g) To enhance the capacity of customs agencies to collaborate in areas of mutual interest. |
3. Counter-terrorism
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Consult bilaterally on counter-terrorism (CT), including regular Counter-Terrorism Ambassadors' consultations. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
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| b) Enhance cooperation on cyber-security and cyber-terrorism by working bilaterally, as well as within regional fora such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and APEC. |
AGD |
MOFAT |
b) The internet is global and securing it requires collaboration between all nations. Australia and the ROK to work together when opportunities arise to enhance cyber-security. |
| c) Australia to invite the ROK national computer emergency response team (KRCERT/CC) to visit Australia for briefings on Australia's new national CERT arrangements and for the two countries' CERT managers to establish contact. |
AGD |
KISA |
c) Create practical links to enhance possibilities for cooperation in cyber-security. |
| d) Cooperate to advance the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT); explore scope for joint GICNT-related activities. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
d) To advance the objectives of the Initiative. |
| e) Enhance police-to-police cooperation on counter-terrorism, including intelligence sharing on CT matters; explore scope for a joint police-to-police counter-terrorism cooperation plan. |
AFP |
KNPA |
e) Australian and Korean police to develop proposals for enhanced cooperation in combatting terrorism. |
| f) Work together to strengthen cooperation on transport security, including aviation and port security. |
Infrastructure |
MOFAT/ MOLTMA |
f) To facilitate cooperation and engagement on transport security policy and processes in the counter-terrorism environment. |
4. Disarmament and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Cooperate on export controls in the Australia Group, the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Wassenaar Arrangement and Zangger Committee and other fora. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
a) To cooperate to prevent proliferation through strengthened export controls including the implementation of UNSCR 1540c. |
| b) Work closely to promote the report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND). |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
b) To re-energise international discussion on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. |
| c) Cooperation in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) review process. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
c) To strengthen the NPT process and reaffirm the core principlesof the NPT. |
| d) Cooperate in the JACKSNNZ group to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
d) Cooperation bilaterally and with others in JACKSNNZ group to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention. |
| e) Work together in the ARF ISM on non-proliferation and disarmament. |
DFAT/ASNO |
MOFAT |
e) To ensure our mutual interests on non-proliferation and disarmament are adequately addressed in the newly established ARF ISM |
| f) Cooperate and implement practical activities under the MOU, signed on 16 April 2009, on nuclear safeguards and security, including in training, improving IAEA safeguards implementation, and joint research and development projects. |
ASNO |
KINAC |
f) To facilitate cooperation between the two countries and to promote effective nuclear safeguards in the Asia-Pacific region. |
| g) Cooperate within Asia-Pacific Nuclear Safeguards Network. |
ASNO |
KINAC |
| h) Cooperate within the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) |
DFAT/ASNO |
MOFAT |
h) To advance PSI objectives. |
5. Peacekeeping and other Defence cooperation
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Exchange information under bilateral Agreement on the Protection of Classified Military Information signed on 30 May 2009 once ratified by Australia (expected to occur in early 2010). |
Defence |
MND |
a) To increase information-sharing between Australia and the ROK in order to facilitate increased interoperability and more comprehensive outcomes from senior-officials' talks, staff talks and political-military discussions. |
| b) Conduct working-level exchanges on civil-military cooperation (CIVMIC). |
b) To develop common understanding and improve ROK familiarity with Australian civil-military cooperation techniques and tactics. |
| c) Continue to offer the ROK positions on Defence-run courses in the areas of peacekeeping, defence management, and civil-military cooperation. |
c) To forge personnel linkages, build relationships, and exchange knowledge on emergency and disaster management, defence management and leadership, civil-military cooperation and peacekeeping. |
| d) Continue to offer the ROK positions at the Australian Command and Staff College, and on Defence Strategic Studies Course. |
d) To provide ROK students with a unique opportunity to learn and establish relationships with Australia's future defence leaders and exchange perspectives on defence and security issues. To find opportunities to increase the depth of exchange visits between our education facilities. |
| e) Exchange lessons learnt from shared operational experiences in areas including counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, civil-military cooperation and disaster relief. |
e) To identify areas of potential interest where our defence establishments could learn from each other, such as in relation to joint command structure and defence procurement. |
| f) Continue to develop linkages between the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence (APCMCOE) and ROK institutions; identify further opportunities for enhanced dialogue, exchanges of knowledge and collaborative education and training; and explore scope for jointly commissioning research. |
APCM COE |
MOFAT / MND / KNPA |
f) To develop further opportunities for defence engagement in peacekeeping, civil-military cooperation and defence management; improve interoperability between Australia and the ROK; and enhance both countries' capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond more effectively to disasters and conflicts overseas. |
| g) Conduct regular reciprocal ship and aircraft visits. Enhance bilateral exercises during ship visits. |
Defence |
MND |
g) To foster mutually beneficial professional links and identify areas for greater research collaboration. To develop strategic and operational inter-operability between naval forces. |
| h) Navy-to-Navy Talks. |
Defence |
MND |
h) To increase levels of interaction between the two navies and develop opportunities for practical defence and naval engagement. |
| i) Airman-to-Airman Talks in 2010. |
Defence |
MND |
i) To develop air force ties and explore and develop opportunities for practical defence and air force engagement. |
| j) Explore possibility of establishing a regular Army-to-Army talks program. |
Defence |
MND |
j) To develop army ties and explore and develop opportunities for practical defence and army engagement. |
| k) Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee: industry and materiel cooperation |
Defence |
DAPA |
k) To explore opportunities for future defence industry and materiel cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including training. |
| l) Develop 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) User Group. |
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l) To pursue areas of collaboration in respect of AEWC 737 platforms. |
| m) Continue short-term fellowships for ROK students at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and pursue options for Australian personnel to conduct short-term study at the Korean National Defence University (KNDU) or similar ROK institutions |
Defence / ADFA |
MND |
m) To improve professional and practical linkages between educational institutions, and provide students with unique opportunities for professional and academic development. |
| n) KNPA to consider offer by AFP for KNPA officers to attend the AFP's International Deployment Group (IDG) pre-deployment training facility. |
AFP |
KNPA |
n) To assess KNPA interest in making use of the AFP's UN-accredited training courses, as a precursor to KNPA officers being deployed on UN missions. |
6. Maritime Security
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Consultation and closer practical cooperation on maritime security, including to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships, primarily through international fora such as the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
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| b) Seek opportunities through existing annual bilateral Defence Policy talks (ref Section 1d of this Action Plan) to discuss security developments and respective activities in the Gulf of Aden. |
Defence |
MND |
| c) Cooperate in the ARF ISM on Maritime Security |
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7. Development Cooperation, with a focus on humanitarian operations, including disaster relief and management
| Activity or proposed activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| a) Cooperate under the MOU on development cooperation (to be signed on 16 December 2009). Areas of focus include disaster risk reduction, disaster response management, and humanitarian assistance. |
AusAID |
MOFAT/KOICA |
a) To improve harmonisation and coordination of our aid approaches and programs, including on the development of a regional disaster management mechanism. |
| b) Collaborate through the ASEAN+3 Emerging Infectious Diseases Program (EID) Phase III. |
AusAID |
MOHWF |
b) To enhance regional preparedness and capacity in integrating surveillance, early recognition of outbreaks, diagnostic capability and response to emerging infectious diseases. |
| c) Cooperate on disaster prevention and response via APEC Emergency Management CEOs' Forum. |
EMA/AGD |
MOFAT/MOPAS/NEMA |
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| d) Cooperate on emergency preparedness via the APEC Task Force for Emergency Preparedness. |
DFAT |
MOFAT/NEMA |
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| e) Cooperate in regional disaster management and relief initiatives, including through ARF Disaster Relief activities and the East Asia Summit. |
AusAID/DFAT/
EMA/ADF |
MOFAT |
e) To enhance regional cooperation on disaster relief and ensure ARF and EAS disaster management activities focus on areas in which these fora can best add value and increase capacity to respond to natural disasters. |
8. Review of the Action Plan
| Activity |
Australian agency |
ROK agency |
Purpose |
| Use bilateral policy consultations, including Senior Officials Talks and Political-Military Talks, as the main consultative channels to discuss and review necessary updates of the Action Plan. |
DFAT |
MOFAT |
To monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and consider new proposals for expanding cooperation under it. |
Australian agencies
- ADF
- Australian Defence Force
- ADFA
- Australian Defence Force Academy
- AFP
- Australian Federal Police
- AGD
- Attorney General's Department
- AIC
- Australian Intelligence Community
- ASNO
- Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office
- AusAID
- Australian Agency for International Development
- Customs
- Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
- DCC
- Department of Climate Change
- Defence
- Department of Defence:
- DFAT
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- DIAC
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship
- DMO
- Defence Materiel Organisation
- DOTARS
- Department of Transport and Regional Services
- DRET
- Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- DSTO
- Defence Science and Technology Organisation
- EMA
- Emergency Management Australia
- Infrastructure
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
- RAN
- Royal Australian Navy
- RAAF
- Royal Australian Air Force
ROK agencies
- DAPA
- Defense Acquisition Program Administration
- KCS
- Korea Customs Service
- KINAC
- Korea Institute of Nuclear non-proliferation and Control
- KNPA
- Korea National Policy Agency
- KOICA
- Korea International Cooperation Agency
- MOHWF
- Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs
- MND
- Ministry of National Defense
- MOFAT
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- MOJ
- Ministry of Justice
- MOLTMA
- Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs
- MOPAS
- Ministry of Public Administration and Security
- NEMA
- National Emergency Management Agency
- NIS
- National Intelligence Service
Last Updated: 29 January 2013
