Seoul and Beijing have restored military cooperation, says South Korea’s vice-defence minister

Military cooperation between China and South Korea was disrupted in 2017 when Beijing criticised Seoul for deploying the US-made THAAD anti-missile defence system

But vice-defence minister Park Jae-min said both sides had built ‘mutual trust’ even amid growing strategic competition in the region

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South Korea’s vice-defence minister Park Jae-min. Photo: AP

Published: 7:00am, 27 Aug 2021Updated: 8:33pm, 27 Aug 2021

The military-to-military relationship between South Korea and China is now “back on the right track”, according to South Korea’s vice-defence minister, who on Thursday confirmed Seoul would return the remains of 109 Chinese soldiers killed during the Korean war.

Park Jae-min described the repatriation of remains – the eighth time this has happened since a pledge made by Seoul in 2014 – as an ongoing goodwill effort that has continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chinese remains will be returned on September 2 following meticulous rituals and ceremonies in both countries. During the Korean war, which was fought from 1950-53, Chinese soldiers fought alongside North Korea against the United States and South Korea.

Between 2 million and 3 million soldiers died during the war.

“This [repatriation] is a result of efforts by the defence ministries of the two countries to prevent conflict and build mutual trust even as strategic competitions within the region are growing,” Park said.