NATO Secretary-General "Hopes to Promote ROK Defense Industry Cooperation... Close Coordination on Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation"

Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), who met with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol, said on the 2nd (local time), "We hope that South Korea will pursue defense industry cooperation not only with individual NATO member countries but also with NATO itself."

(From left) Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are having a meeting and taking a commemorative photo at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on the 2nd (local time). Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister Cho, visiting Brussels, Belgium to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held a meeting with Secretary General Rutte at NATO headquarters on the same day. European countries have recently shown a 'rearmament' movement to respond to geopolitical risks such as conflicts with the United States and the Russia-Ukraine war, which is also seen as an opportunity for South Korea's defense industry. In response to Secretary General Rutte's remarks, Minister Cho replied, "Let us expand cooperation starting with feasible measures through practical consultations."

South Korea and NATO also agreed to maintain close cooperation regarding the Russia-North Korea military cooperation issue. Minister Cho emphasized, "The ongoing Russia-North Korea military cooperation must be immediately halted even during the Ukraine ceasefire negotiations," and added, "No compensation should be made for North Korea's wrongful actions during the ceasefire process." He requested NATO's attention to the early completion of the 'South Korea-NATO information-sharing channel' that has been promoted since last year.

Secretary General Rutte also shared the recognition that Russia-North Korea military cooperation poses a 'joint security threat' to Europe and the Indo-Pacific region and agreed on the necessity of cooperation.

Meanwhile, Minister Cho expressed his intention to continue efforts with the international community for the swift restoration of peace and reconstruction in Ukraine. Following South Korea's support of $400 million to Ukraine last year, it plans to support reconstruction through a mid- to long-term assistance package worth $2 billion starting this year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Secretary General Rutte expressed deep gratitude for this.