CANBERRA, Australia, March 5 (UPI) -- South Korea and Australia have agreed to strengthen security ties and announced the start of free-trade talks, officials said Thursday.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, meeting in Canberra, Australia, said they had pledged cooperation in a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and military exchanges.
In a joint statement the two countries promised to "continue to expand cooperation on global disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," the Yonhap news agency said.
The leaders agreed to boost military and defense industry ties and also called for cooperation in international peacekeeping and in other areas.
