▲ Smoke billows from Hanwha Aerospace's factory in the central city of Daejeon, in this photo provided by a reader on June 1, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

defense minister-Hanwha Aerospace

Defense minister vows assistance in probe into Hanwha Aerospace plant explosion

SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Monday his ministry would spare no effort to provide technical assistance in determining the cause of a deadly explosion at a factory of key defense firm Hanwha Aerospace.

Earlier in the day, a blast tore through the company's plant in the central city of Daejeon, killing five people and injuring two.

"We will spare no technical assistance," Ahn wrote on X, saying his ministry would work alongside the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to determine what triggered the blast.

He also pledged to cooperate in drawing up safety measures for defense industry workers "to prevent this tragedy from recurring," offering condolences to the victims' families and wishing the injured a swift recovery.

The Daejeon plant manufactures large propulsion engines and tactical surface-to-surface missile systems.

Since the accident, DAPA has sent officials to the site to assess the damage.

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