Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Cameroon and Finland on Wednesday to discuss the security situation, and ways to broaden defense and arms industry cooperation, his office said.

In what marked the first defense ministerial meeting between South Korea and Cameroon since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, Kim and his counterpart, Joseph Beti Assomo, agreed to seek cooperation in the defense and arms sectors, including in the state communications network business of the central African country, according to the South’s defense ministry.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun (L) and his Cameroonian counterpart, Joseph Beti Assomo (R), speak during bilateral talks held in Seoul on Sept. 11, 2024, in this photo provided Kim’s office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun (L) and his Cameroonian counterpart, Joseph Beti Assomo (R), speak during bilateral talks held in Seoul on Sept. 11, 2024, in this photo provided Kim’s office. (PHOTO NOT
FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

In his meeting with Finnish defense chief Antti Hakkanen, Kim supported Helsinki’s decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization last year amid increasing security interconnectivity between Asia and Europe.

Kim also called for further boosting their defense, arms and technology cooperation, noting how Finland first adopted South Korea’s K-9 self-propelled howitzers in 2017.

The meetings came on the sidelines of the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue that kicked off its two-day run earlier in the day. Some 900 security officials and experts around the world joined the forum for discussions on regional and global security issues and challenges.

Source: Yonhap News Agency