S. Korea, Central America to strengthen security cooperation

South Korea agreed to join forces with Central American countries to fight crime and expand security-related cooperation, the Seoul government announced Saturday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Korea-Central American Integration System (SICA) talks held in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Thursday, led to an agreement to step up efforts to protect South Korean nationals and businesses in the region plagued by an upsurge in crime. Central America is home to roughly 25,000 South Koreans and some 2,000 Korean businesses. The rise in crime in the region has become an international issue that requires worldwide cooperation, with SICA set up in 1996 as a economic, cultural and political organization to strengthen actual cooperation, placing high priority on tackling this challenge. The ministry, in addition, said that both sides exchanged views on ways to expand trade, investment and share knowhow on economic development. They also discussed strengthening information and communication technology (ICT) ties and working together in the international arena through venues such as the United Nations. Besides these issues, SICA members said they welcomed South Korea as an outside observer to the organization. South Korea, meanwhile, was represented by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Seok-hwan at the talks that brought together senior policymakers from eight member countries. Park held one-on-one talks with vice ministers from El Salvador, Guatemala, Pamama and Honduras and visited Costa Rica and Bolivia to discuss issues of mutual concern.