0
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. participate in an honor guard ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, on the 7th. / Yonhap

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek is visiting Croatia to attend the signing ceremony for a contract on the Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 9th, Minister Ahn will visit Croatia from today through the 11th at the invitation of the Croatian Ministry of Defense.

Ahn is scheduled to meet with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on the 10th (local time) before attending the Chunmoo contract signing ceremony. During the visit, the minister plans to highlight the competitiveness of South Korea's defense industry and emphasize Seoul's commitment to bilateral cooperation with Croatia.

The Chunmoo deal marks South Korea's first defense export to Croatia. The defense ministry projected that the agreement will serve as an important milestone in fostering mutually beneficial cooperative ties based on a bilateral defense partnership.

A defense ministry official stated, "The two sides also plan to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation to establish an institutional framework for systematic and substantive collaboration in defense and the arms industry." The official added, "In addition to defense industry ties, Minister Ahn will discuss strategic cooperation measures aimed at ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol