According to Vietnam's official government newspaper on June 3, a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Public Security, led by Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung, visited South Korea from May 25 to 29 to hold discussions with the National Police Agency and the Coast Guard.
During the visit, the two nations conducted a deputy-ministerial level police cooperation meeting. They reviewed the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, including responses to transnational crime, specialized training, and capacity-building initiatives for the Vietnamese police. Deputy Minister Hung and the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Chungjeongno Police Station in Seoul to observe on-site operations.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of an MOU to elevate the operation of the 'Communication Team.' This agreement establishes additional channels for operational collaboration and information exchange between the law enforcement agencies of South Korea and Vietnam. Both sides emphasized the importance of a direct communication system in addressing cross-border crime and cyber and financial crimes, which are rapidly spreading. This system is expected to facilitate the identification of fugitives, arrests, repatriation, and the protection of citizens.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung stated, "The cooperation between our two sides has developed positively. I particularly commend the achievements in elevating the operation of the communication team, preparing for the deputy-ministerial police cooperation meeting, and the fourth cultural and sports exchange program." He emphasized that South Korea will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security in responding to transnational crime, apprehending and repatriating fugitives, and protecting citizens.
Deputy Minister Hung remarked, "Both sides should strengthen delegation exchanges and continue to expand cooperation in responding to transnational crime. I hope South Korea will continue to support the Vietnamese police in enhancing law enforcement capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, transnational crime investigations, data management, and human resources training."
Maritime and surface law enforcement cooperation is also being pursued concurrently. The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam highly appreciates the support from the South Korean Coast Guard in training and equipment transfer for surface law enforcement.
Acting Coast Guard Commissioner Jang In-sik expressed satisfaction that two patrol vessels, which completed their missions in South Korea, will continue to operate effectively in Vietnam. He noted that since the signing of the MOU in 2023, the cooperation between the two sides has yielded significant results, including the successful implementation of training programs for Vietnamese water traffic police and technical inspections of the transferred vessels. He also expressed a desire to participate in the Vietnamese language training program organized by the Ministry of Public Security.
Deputy Minister Hung requested continued support for training and equipment transfers for law enforcement in inland and coastal areas. He also called for enhanced cooperation to ensure maritime security and safety in the East Sea, based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to support peace, stability, and freedom of navigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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