New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Friday pressured South Korea to move forward in their stalled talks for a free trade agreement.

He sharply criticized Seoul for treating New Zealand unfairly, saying that it is time for Seoul to repay his country’s contribution to the Korean War which ended 60 years ago.

Key is visiting Seoul to attend the 60th anniversary of the armistice. New Zealand sent more than 6,000 troops to fight for South Korea in the 1950-53 war.

In a meeting with New Zealand veterans and residents in Seoul, Key expressed frustration with the delayed FTA talks with Korea which has already signed trade deals with the U.S., the European Union and Chile.

“It’s not exactly a pretty level playing field,” Key was quoted as telling the veterans.

The two countries began FTA talks in 2009 but have yet to conclude negotiations.

“A lot of the companies who our guys compete with have got a real disadvantage here, and so we’re asking them to compete with one arm tied behind their back.”

He said that New Zealand companies paid $200 million a year in tariffs on its exports to South Korea, while New Zealand charged Korean companies only about $5 million on the some $1.8 billion they exported to New Zealand.

“I don’t think that’s right or fair, not given everything we’ve done and the contribution that we’ve made.”

Later in the day, he held a summit with President Park Geun-hye and discussed North Korea and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Park expressed appreciation for New Zealand’s support for South Korea during the war, Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.

“South Korea was able to safeguard liberal democracy and become what it is today thanks to the sublime sacrifices of New Zealand troops,” Park told Key. “The people of South Korea will never forget the sacrifices and love of New Zealand veterans.”

Park said that New Zealand dispatched 6,000 troops when the country’s total number of troops was fewer than 10,000. She also noted that New Zealand veterans are still sending scholarships to South Korean students in one of the hardest-fought regions during the war.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1962. Their bilateral trade volume amounted to $75.5 billion last year.

(From news reports )