The head of South Korea's arms procurement agency held talks with high-level European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization officials this week to discuss ways to expand defense industry cooperation, his office said Thursday.
Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Seok Jong-gun met European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius in Brussels on Wednesday, as Seoul seeks to strengthen arms industry ties with Europe amid the continent's rearmament push.
During the talks, Kubilius shared Europe's rearmament plans, while Seok briefed him on South Korea's arms industry capabilities and proposed joint research and development for advanced technologies, according to DAPA.
It marked the first time that a DAPA minister has held talks with a high-ranking EU official, DAPA said.
Seok also met NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska the same day and proposed forming a joint consultative body on arms industry cooperation and holding its inaugural meeting this year.
Seok emphasized the need for an integrated deterrence strategy between the Indo-Pacific and the North Atlantic, citing Russia's war on Ukraine that has led to calls for interoperability between the weapons systems of South Korea and NATO, it said.
Meanwhile, Shekerinska thanked South Korea for its support for Ukraine and shared the need for cooperation on joint research and development of advanced weapons systems, according to DAPA.
The talks took place after the EU last month unveiled a new white paper titled, "Readiness 2030," outlining plans to enhance the continent's defense capabilities over the next five years. (Yonhap)
