Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Two sides exchange opinions on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Central Asia
Minister Suh also encouraged soldiers of the Cheonghae Unit touched at Muscat Port

On September 1 (local time), Minister of National Defense Suh Wook discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on national defense and in the defense industry at a meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said in Muscat, while carrying out military diplomacy in the Middle East. 

“We hope to expand our cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK) in a number of fields, including national defense, as well as to facilitate an official visit by President Moon to Oman,” Shihab said at the meeting, relaying Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s greetings to President Moon.

Suh expressed thanks to the Omani authorities for its support for the Cheonghae Unit, which has been aiding in efforts to combat piracy and ensure the safe navigation of international ships off the coast of Oman. 

Suh and Shihab also exchanged opinions on the regional situation, including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East. Shihab highly appreciated the ROK government’s recent ‘Operation Miracle’ to airlift Afghani special collaborators to the ROK. “We also expect the ROK to play a role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East,” Shihab said, adding “We hope to cooperate with the ROK in the area of high-tech weapons systems, and will actively push the plan to send a delegation to the International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2021), which is scheduled to be held in Seoul next month.”

After the meeting, Suh encouraged the soldiers and checked on the COVID-19 quarantine situation during a visit to the Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin-class destroyer of the 35th batch of the Cheonghae Unit touched at Muscat Port.

After being briefed on the situation in managing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment supplied recently, as well as munitions loading, Suh called on the soldiers to “contain the spread COVID-19 and return home safely by taking quick action in the event of a confirmed case,” stressing that “thorough quarantine measures should be prioritized to ensure the complete accomplishment of your missions.”

맹수열 By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >

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