Seoul: Senior defense officials from South Korea and the Netherlands convened in Seoul to explore avenues for enhancing collaboration in the arms industry and other security-related sectors, as announced by the South Korean defense ministry. Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and Dutch Minister for Arms Procurement and Personnel Gijs Tuinman emphasized the importance of strengthening ties in areas such as high-level exchanges, the arms industry, artificial intelligence, space, and cyber initiatives.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee expressed gratitude towards the Netherlands for its ongoing contributions to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He highlighted the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea as significant concerns for the international community, urging Dutch support for South Korea's peace efforts in the region.
Tuinman recognized the heightened significance of bilateral cooperation amidst increasing global security interconnectedness and advocated for expanding practical cooperation between the two nations. The Netherlands holds historical ties with South Korea, being one of the 22 countries that provided military or other support during and shortly after the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.