The two countries will invest USD 20 million into the clearance of unexploded ordnance scattered across 8,000-hectares of land in the central provinces of Binh Dinh and Quang Binh. The project will kick off this year and run until 2020.
On December last year, a delegation from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the military command of Bình Định Province conducted a survey of areas contaminated with post-war landmines and UXOs in the region.
This is one of the two most-affected provinces in Vietnam with over 250,000 tonnes of UXOs scattered across 240,000 hectares of land. After the survey, the South Korean organisation set up a project in Bình Định and Quảng Bình province to help Vietnam in accelerating the clearance of post-war bombs and landmines.
"The government of South Korea and KOICA feel very happy to support Vietnam in post-war bomb and landmine clearance. As South Korean has modern technologies, we can contribute to the bomb and mine clearance tasks in Vietnam." - Lee Hyuk, South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam
"First of all we conducted surveys in the contaminated areas and then set up project in the region. In 2014 and 2015, KOICA and Vietnam held meetings and set up many projects. We know how long it will take and how much it will cost." - Senior Lieutenant General NGUYEN CHI VINH, Deputy Defence Minister
South Korea has granted non-refundable aid valued at US$10 million, for Vietnam to clear unexploded ordnance. South Korea also agreed to implement the project in addition to providing equipment, technology, and training experts and technicians.
"South Korea will provide equipment and human resources. We’ll provide counterpart funds. However, if Vietnam can’t provide enough funds, we can use our human resources and equipment. They still consider that as the contributions of Vietnam in the project. It means the effectiveness of the project will vary according to each level of the budget." - Senior Lieutenant General NGUYEN CHI VINH, Deputy Defence Minister
The project will be implemented from 2016 to 2020 and is intended to enhance management capability in dealing with the consequences of unexploded ordnance to ensure safety and social-economic development in the two provinces.
