Seoul, April 3: South Korea and France’s defense leaders convened on Friday in Seoul to discuss regional security and ways to enhance bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation. This information was provided by South Korea’s Ministry of Defense.
The talks took place between South Korean Defense Minister An Gyu-baek and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna, coinciding with a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron in Seoul.
According to a report from Yonhap News Agency, An Gyu-baek noted during the ministerial discussions that the two nations are celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations and expressed gratitude to France for contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Both parties agreed that rising tensions in the Middle East and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war have increased uncertainties in the international security environment. They emphasized the need for strategic communication and coordination to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
An Gyu-baek highlighted that North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities, along with its illegal military cooperation with Russia, pose serious challenges not only to the Korean Peninsula but also to the international community. He called for France’s continued interest and support in efforts to achieve denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the defense leaders assessed that their collaboration in military training and the space sector has increased, agreeing to further advance cooperation in other security areas.
They also concurred that France and South Korea are partners in the arms industry, both capable of competing globally, and emphasized the need to enhance their cooperation in a mutually complementary manner.
Additionally, the Ministry of Veterans in Seoul announced that South Korea and France signed an initial agreement on Friday to promote support for veterans of the Korean War (1950-53).
According to the ministry, Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-yul and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Colonna participated in the signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation regarding veterans’ affairs.
Under this agreement, both agencies decided to collaborate in gathering and sharing records of France’s participation in the Korean War, ensuring respect for war veterans and bereaved families, and establishing a memorial facility for deceased veterans.
This agreement follows a letter of intent signed in 2023 for cooperation on veterans’ affairs.
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