The foreign minister of Australia vowed Wednesday that his government will make utmost efforts to track down those suspected of attacking South Korean nationals in his country and bring them to justice.
In a Korean-language statement provided by the Australian embassy in Seoul, Bob Carr said investigations have been under way to trace suspects in four assault cases against South Korean nationals in the last three months.
The cases took place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Gold Coast, with some known to be racially motivated.
If the suspects are found to have attacked the victims due to their race, they will receive stronger punishments under Australian law, Carr said, noting his country has strict anti-racial discrimination laws.
The latest remark came as Seoul's foreign ministry has requested the Australian authorities launch a thorough investigation into the cases over growing safety concerns among 140,000 South Koreans in the nation. (Yonhap News)
