Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The vice defense ministers of both countries discussed strengthening cooperation in the Czech Republic.

They decided to establish military attaché offices.

South Korea asked for the Czech Republic’s interest in K-defense and weapons system

During his visit to the Czech Republic, Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho held a vice defense ministerial meeting with Deputy Defense Minister Daniel Blazkovec to discuss defense and defense industry cooperation at the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces on October 15 (local time).

In the meeting, the two vice ministers assessed that while the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a “strategic partnership” in 2015, it has since evolved into a comprehensive, full-scale relationship covering nuclear power plants and infrastructure following the recent Korea-Czech Republic summit, and the partnership is also extending to the defense and defense industry sectors.

Moreover, the two vice ministers pledged to further strengthen bilateral defense activities in areas including high-ranking official exchanges, △ cybersecurity, and △ information exchanges, building on the MOU on defense cooperation signed by the defense ministries in 2015.

They also agreed to explore mutual projects by initiating a working-level defense policy meeting between the defense ministries of Korea and the Czech Republic. The two sides also agreed to consider establishing military attaché offices in each other’s countries to support evolving defense and defense industry cooperation. The two vice ministers decided to strengthen the tailored defense industry partnership between their countries, as Korea has recently expanded defense industry cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe countries, including Poland and Romania.

Vice Minister Kim highlighted the strengths of K-defense, including high adaptability to actual warfare, robust subsequent logistic support and comprehensive weapon system operation training. He encouraged the Czech defense ministry to take an active interest in Korean weapon systems.

They also agreed to consider specific defense mutual projects by holding the second joint committee on the defense industry and military logistics in the first half of next year.

The two vice ministers noted that security issues on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region and the Atlantic are closely interconnected, and strongly condemned the deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea. They also agreed that, given the recent grave security situation, the joint efforts of the international community, including between Korea, the Czech Republic, NATO, and Indo-Pacific partner countries (IP4) are critical.

After the meeting, Vice Minister Kim and Deputy Minister Blazkovec visited the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers in Prague and laid a wreath.

By Ah-Mi, Cho <joajoa@dema.mil.kr>

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