Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Vice defense minister Shin Beom-chul launches government TF

TF checks and establishes protective measures for domestic market and negotiation measures

Expected to take the defense industry to the next level

On October 28, the government launched a pan-governmental task force team (TF) to discuss promotion strategies for the conclusion of the private-public joint Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A) between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States (US) at the main building of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, and held its first meeting.

Chaired by Vice Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-chul and vice-chaired by Deputy Director of Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Kang Hwan-seok, the TF consists of about 20 people, including director-level officials from relevant departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and DAPA, funded bodies, Korea Defense Industry Association, and civil experts.

The TF plans to develop comprehensive promotion strategies to conclude the RDP-A by checking and establishing protective measures for the domestic market, ways to invigorate exports to the US, and measures for negotiation.

“The RDP-A will serve as momentum to take the domestic defense industry to the next level. The TF will focus its capabilities on reflecting the position of domestic defense companies,” Shin emphasized.

An RDP-A is a memorandum of understanding between the US Department of Defense and its allies that aims to remove or ease trade barriers in the reciprocal export of procurement products.

In the joint statement of the May summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and his US counterpart Joe Biden, both countries agreed to strengthen their partnership in defense supply chains, joint development, and manufacturing, as well as to begin discussions on the RDP-A.

By Hyun-woo, Seo <lgiant61@dema.mi.kr>

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