Head of South Korea's defense procurement Seok Jong-gun was in Romania last week to discuss with senior officials Romania plans to acquire new military hardware, and also strengthen cooperation in the weapons industry, Seok Jong-gun's office reported on Monday as cited by South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Seok Jong-gun, minister of the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), met on Friday in Bucharest with Nicoleta Pauliuc, chair of the Romanian Senate's Committee on Defense, Public Order and National Security, to discuss Romania's plans to acquire new military equipment.
During the talks, Seok explained Seoul's efforts to participate in Romania's projects to buy new infantry combat vehicles and battle tanks with its Redback armored vehicle and K2 tank, according to DAPA.
Seok also met with Romanian Economy Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan to discuss arms industry cooperation in warships and advanced technologies.
Ivan expressed hope for cooperation with South Korean defense and shipbuilding companies to enhance the security of the Black Sea region and the shipbuilding industry, with Seok agreeing to hold discussions in these areas, DAPA said.
The two countries have recently stepped up their arms industry cooperation, after South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace won a 1.38 trillion won ($940 million) order from Romania last year to supply K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition supply vehicles.
Seok's visit to Romania followed a visit to Norway earlier this week to discuss ways to improve the capabilities of the Scandinavian country's K9 system.
Norway and Romania are among the nine countries that have purchased the K9, along with Australia, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, India, Poland and Turkey.