The Prime Minister, John Key, set off today for a 10-day trip to South Korea, China and Vietnam. He said that New Zealand needs to have strong relationships with Asian countries as we are near neighbours.

It is the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. In South Korea, John Key will remember the New Zealand soldiers who died in this war. He will lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Yongsan, Seoul and he will visit the DMZ, the demilitarized zone. This is the land between North and South Korea.

John Key will have talks with the President, Lee Myun-bak, and the Prime Minister, Chung Unchan about a free trade agreement between New Zealand and South Korea.

This is John Key’s first visit to South Korea.

Questions

What are some of the difficulties in negotiating a free trade agreement with South Korea?

New Zealand needs to be friendly with South Korea but does South Korea need New Zealand?