Korea-Poland Foreign Ministers Join Hands on Defense Industry Cooperation... "Support for Prompt Conclusion of 2nd K2 Tank Contract"

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Poland reaffirmed their commitment to 'defense industry cooperation' and agreed to support the swift conclusion of the currently negotiated 'second implementation contract for K2 tanks' between the two sides.

On the 5th (local time) in Warsaw, Poland, Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Radosław Sikorski, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a foreign ministers' meeting and took a commemorative photo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On the 5th (local time), Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, who is on an official visit to Poland, held a foreign ministers' meeting with Radosław Sikorski, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Warsaw to discuss this matter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 6th. This is the first official visit by a South Korean foreign minister to Poland in about 18 years since 2007.

The main purpose of Minister Cho's visit to Poland this time is to provide whole-of-government support for the $44.2 billion defense contract signed in 2022. A delegation from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration also attended the meeting. The foreign ministers of both countries reached a consensus that the unprecedented scale of defense cooperation is a key pillar in the development of South Korea-Poland relations and agreed to continue promoting defense cooperation as optimal strategic partners in defense and security. In particular, they plan to support the prompt conclusion of the second implementation contract for K2 tanks currently under negotiation between the two countries.

The foreign ministers also exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the war in Ukraine. They strongly condemned North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development and provocations, as well as the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, pointing out that these pose threats to security on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide. They agreed to continue unified responses with the international community for North Korea's complete denuclearization and improvement of human rights. Minister Cho emphasized, "North Korea must not receive any compensation for illegal acts during the peace negotiation process of the Ukraine war."

After the meeting, Minister Cho visited the Air Force 23rd Tactical Squadron base located in Minsk Mazowiecki, about an hour's drive from Warsaw. South Korea's FA-50 fighter jets are deployed there, and employees from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are stationed at the base to conduct related training.

On the 5th (local time) in Warsaw, Poland, Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs (center front row), held a meeting with local businesspeople and took a commemorative photo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Meanwhile, Minister Cho held a dinner meeting with Korean businesspeople operating in Poland. Representatives from 13 companies, including Samsung Electronics, LG Energy Solution, and Hyundai Rotem, as well as 7 public institutions, attended. The trade volume between the two countries grew more than twofold over the past decade, from $4.6 billion in 2014 to $9.9 billion last year. Minister Cho stated, "There are many areas where cooperation will expand, including defense industry, infrastructure, and Ukraine reconstruction," adding, "We are continuously striving to ensure that overseas companies receive active government support locally."