Seoul: South Korea has made amendments to the NATO-issued identification code system for its arms equipment suppliers, aiming to facilitate increased defense exports to the United States, the arms agency announced on Friday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, after discussions with NATO authorities, South Korean suppliers are now eligible to obtain a NATO commercial and government entity (NCAGE) code for every production facility, as per the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) release. The NCAGE code is a five-character identifier provided to non-NATO businesses or government agencies that supply goods or services to NATO-member defense agencies or the U.S. federal government.

Previously, the issuance of NCAGE codes was based on business registration numbers, which often led to administrative challenges for companies managing multiple factories or warehouses when competing for international contracts. This revision is part of South Korea's ongoing efforts to align with NATO standardization protocols, thereby enhancing the ability of local defense companies to penetrate the U.S. defense procurement market. This move comes amidst increasing shipbuilding cooperation between Seoul and Washington.