S Korea-Finland-arms deal

S. Korea inks deal to export 112 more K9 howitzers to Finland

SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will export an additional 112 units of its K9 self-propelled howitzers to Finland in an arms deal valued at some 940 billion won (US$634 million), the state arms procurement agency said Thursday, in what would be another boost for Seoul's push to export more weapons.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), representing the government, signed the deal with Finland's defense ministry in Helsinki on Thursday, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Under the agreement, South Korean defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co. will supply 112 K9 howitzers to Finland. It marked the second such contract with the northern European nation following its deal to supply 96 K9 howitzers in 2017.

The latest arms deal is expected to act as an impetus for future exports of South Korean arms products, proving its homegrown K9 howitzers to be highly effective, with prominent mobility and firepower even under the dire climate conditions of northern Europe.

The K9 howitzers are currently operated by more than 10 countries, including six members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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