§ 4. Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with South Korea.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Alastair Goodlad)Our relations with the Republic of Korea are excellent. We look forward to a further strengthening of them during the next Administration in the Republic of Korea.
§ Mr. ParryGiven the good relationship that exists between the United Kingdom and South Korea, will the Minister consider using his influence by asking the South Korean Government to cancel the war games—Exercise Team Spirit—on the Korean peninsula for the sake of peace and detente?
§ Mr. GoodladWe have consistently supported efforts to achieve peaceful reunification of the two Koreas, as has the hon. Gentleman. That can be achieved only through direct north-south contact. We were disappointed that the ninth round of bilateral prime ministerial talks was cancelled in December and we hope that talks will resume shortly.
Exercise Team Spirit, to which the hon. Gentleman referred, is to be a routine defence training exercise involving United States and Republic of Korea forces. The purpose is to exercise combat readiness command control, host nation support and logistic support for the command that might be required to defend South Korea. The exercise, which is normally held annually in the spring, demonstrates the United States commitment to the defence of South Korea. It is a purely bilateral matter for the United States and South Korean Governments.
§ Mr. FabricantDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the so-called Democratic Republic of Korea is on the verge of economic collapse? Does he think that there is now a greater opportunity for both Koreas to unite for the benefit of their people and of world stability?
§ Mr. GoodladMy hon. Friend makes a very perceptive point.