Seoul: Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan emphasized the technological and security prowess of South Korean submarines during a meeting with Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly. The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in advanced industries, resources, and other sectors, as reported by Kim's office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting in Seoul comes as South Korea's Hanwha Ocean Co. is in the final stages of competition for Canada's patrol submarine project. The company was named one of the final two contenders for the project in August.

During the discussions, Kim expressed his appreciation for Canada's decision to shortlist a Korean company for its submarine project, highlighting the security and technological strengths of Korean submarines. He also advocated for expanding the bilateral strategic partnership across various industrial sectors, including battery, electric vehicle, hydrogen, and critical minerals. Kim noted that trade between the two countries has doubled over the past decade since their free trade agreement was implemented in 2015.