Defense chiefs of S. Korea, France discuss security, arms cooperation

▲ Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (R) and France's Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin shake hands during their meeting in Seoul on April 3, 2026, in this photo provided by Ahn's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-France-defense talks

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, France discuss security, arms cooperation

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- The defense chiefs of South Korea and France held talks in Seoul on Friday to discuss the regional security situation and ways to strengthen their bilateral defense and arms industry cooperation, the South's defense ministry said.

The talks between Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, took place on the occasion of summit talks between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron in Seoul.

In the defense ministerial talks, Ahn noted that the two countries mark the 140th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties, and thanked France for contributing to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, according to the ministry.

Both sides concurred that uncertainties are increasing in the international security environment amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, and a prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, and agreed to bolster strategic communication and coordination for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific.

Ahn stressed that North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, and illegal military cooperation with Russia is a grave challenge not only to the Korean Peninsula but the international community, and requested France's continued interest and support for Seoul's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish permanent peace.

Meanwhile, the defense chiefs assessed that their cooperation in military training and in the area of space has expanded, and agreed to advance such cooperation in other security areas.

They also concurred that France and South Korea are arms industry partners, each equipped in global competitiveness, and called for expanding their cooperation in the sector in a complementary manner, the ministry said.

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