Chief of Defence Force to visit Japan and Korea

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, is visiting his counterparts in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Lieutenant General Keating leaves tomorrow for the week- long visit, which will include meetings with Japanese and Korean senior defence leaders.

“Japan and the Republic of Korea are key partners in the Asian region, and our defence links are an important part of the overall bilateral relationship,” Lieutenant General Keating said.

“My visit to both countries will provide a valuable opportunity to exchange views on regional security issues.”

In Japan, he will meet the Associate Minister of Defence, Kenji Wakamiya, and Japan’s counterpart to the Chief of Defence Force, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano. He will also meet a number of senior Japanese Self Defence Force commanders.

In the Republic of Korea, as well as meetings with senior Republic of Korea armed forces officers, including his counterpart, General Lee Soon-Jin, Lieutenant General Keating is scheduled to meet the newly appointed Minister of National Defence, retired Admiral Song Young-Moon. He will also visit Yongsan and meet senior United Nations Command staff.

Lieutenant General Keating will also visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) and participate in a ceremony to mark the 64th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement, alongside the New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed to the UN Command Military Armistice Commission.