S. Korea, Netherlands discuss expanding defense cooperation

▲ Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee (L) and Dutch Minister for Arms Procurement and Personnel Gijs Tuinman shake hands during their meeting in Seoul on Jan. 13, 2026, in this photo provided by the defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Netherlands-defense talks

S. Korea, Netherlands discuss expanding defense cooperation

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Senior defense officials of South Korea and the Netherlands met in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to expand their cooperation in the arms industry and security-related areas, the defense ministry said.

In their talks, Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and Dutch Minister for Arms Procurement and Personnel Gijs Tuinman underscored the need to strengthen cooperation in an array of areas, including high-level exchange, the arms industry, as well as artificial intelligence, space and cyber, the ministry said.

Lee thanked Tuinman for his country's continued contribution for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He also noted how North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats are a grave threat for the international community and requested the Netherlands' support for Seoul's efforts to establish peace on the peninsula.

Tuinman said bilateral cooperation is more important than ever amid an increasing security interconnectedness among countries and called for expanding practical cooperation between South Korea and the Netherlands, according to the ministry.

The Netherlands is among the 22 countries that sent troops or other forms of support to back South Korea during and right after the 1950-53 Korean War.

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