Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Defense Minister Han Min-koo and the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland as well as Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak had an exchange of views about regional security including the situation on the Korean Peninsula at a talk held at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on March 25.

They had evaluated the current situation of national defense and defense industrial cooperation including the export of the body of the K-9 self-propelled gun, and discussed its further development plan.

Prior to this, Minister Siemoniak visited the National Cemetery in Seoul on the very day he arrived in Korea and had a discussion about defense industrial cooperation issues with the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Jang Myeong-jin.

The Polish Minister also met Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Choi Yun-hee on the same day, and on March 26, he is going to hold a defense industrial business informationsession for investors and meet the Chairman of the National Assembly, Jung Ui-hwa. 

“Based on a strong economic and trade relationship, Korea and Poland have been deepening and improving their relations in regard to the political, economic, academic, national defense, security and defense industry fields. This talk would be an opportunity to strengthen the actual cooperative relationship in national defense, security and the defense industry field,” an MND official said.

Meanwhile, in the morning of the same day, Minister Han made a phone call to U.S. Defense Minister Ashton Carter for a mutual exchange of opinions about development direction of the Korea-U.S. alliance.

The phone call was made at the request of Minister Carter and he reaffirmed the U.S. security pledge for Korea. Minister Han celebrated Carter’s inauguration as Minister. 

The MND said that both Ministers evaluated the Korea-U.S. alliance as playing a key role for stability and peace in the region as well as on the Korean Peninsula for the last 60 years, and agreed to closely cooperate with each other for the development of the Korea-U.S. alliance and intensification of combined defense preparation.

Also, the MND said the two Ministers will meet soon to discuss pending issues about the security situation and Korea-U.S. alliance.

By Seok-Jong, Lee <seokjong@dema.mil.kr> 

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