New Zealand PM to mark overseas military deployments

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will mark the anniversaries of two of the country's overseas military deployments when he travels to the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Korea (ROK) this month.

Key will lead a delegation of New Zealand Defence Force and Police representatives to the Solomon Islands on July 24 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

"The strength of the New Zealand delegation signifies the importance of our RAMSI contribution to the Solomon Islands. New Zealand will continue to support the mission as it transitions from a military and police mission to a police-only mission," Key said in a statement Thursday.

RAMSI, agreed by the governments of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2003 after five years of civil unrest, had markedly reduced violence and helped to increase delivery of government services to the public, he said.

New Zealand began a drawdown from RAMSI after the Solomon Islands elected a new government in November 2011.

Key would then travel the ROK to join New Zealand veterans in commemorations to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

Of the 6,000 New Zealanders who fought in the Korean War, 45 died and 79 were wounded.

Key would also hold talks with the new South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was inaugurated in February, and is the country 's first woman leader.

"We have a warm, multi-faceted relationship with Korea. I'm keen to work with President Park to develop our links further," said Key, who will return to New Zealand on July 30.