Seoul (VNA) – Maritime security isamong the issues drawing much attention at the ongoing 8th vice-ministerialSeoul Defence Dialogue in the Republic of Korea (RoK), according to DeputyDefence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency,Vinh, who is leading a Vietnamese delegation to the dialogue, said the annualevent focuses on security in the Asia-Pacific region, especially issuesemerging in certain periods.

At this year’s dialogue, the peace issue in theKorean Peninsula will be the first to be on the agenda, he said, noting thatresults attained in recent years, including the summits between the US and theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea in Vietnam and Singapore, along withdifficulties on the path to genuine peace and complete denuclearisation in theKorean Peninsula will be discussed.

Vinh added maritime security is the next topicattracting defence officials’ attention at the event as many of them areconcerned about international law of the sea being violated seriously, the useof force and militarisation of common sea areas in the world, which haveinfringed coastal countries’ rights and adversely affected peace and stabilityin Asia-Pacific.

Regarding the ASEAN-RoK deputy defenceministers’ meeting held in Seoul on September 4, he said like the Seoul DefenceDialogue, the meeting also touched upon many security issues relevant to theRoK and ASEAN, with the East Sea situation pointed out as an issue of sharedconcern of ASEAN countries and the international community.

Participants voiced concern about theinternational law system on navigation and aviation security and safety beingthreatened, as well as about militarisation and coercion. They also focused onthe fact that normal economic activities of coastal countries on the basis ofinternational law within their jurisdiction and sovereignty right aredisrespected by other countries’ behaviors that harm peaceful activities atsea, complicate the regional situation, and endanger navigation and aviationfreedom, the Deputy Minister added.

He said cyber-security is also on the agenda ofthe Seoul Defence Dialogue, noting that although it is not a new problem, it isgrowing very fast and threatening peace and stability of the region, as well asof all countries.

At a panel discussion on September 4, theVietnamese delegation delivered a speech on cyber-security, in which ithighlighted the importance of international cooperation, including in defence,to address relevant challenges, Vinh said.-VNA