Kuala lumpur: South Korea and Malaysia have strengthened their defense sector ties by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the arms industry. This agreement was finalized during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, as reported by Seoul's state arms procurement agency.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Seok Jong-gun, the minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and Malaysian defense chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin were the signatories of this MOU. The agreement outlines plans to boost collaboration not only in arms procurement but also in the research and development of defense technologies and joint production of materiel.

Seok Jong-gun emphasized the broader scope of the partnership, stating that South Korea aims to contribute to enhancing Malaysia's defense capabilities and advancing its arms industry. The goal is to establish South Korea as a genuine partner and to promote regional peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

Historically, South Korea's defense relations with Malaysia include the 1993 deal to supply K200 armored vehicles and a significant US$920 million agreement in 2023 to export 18 FA-50 light attack aircraft. With this new MOU, South Korea has now established arms cooperation agreements with a total of 52 nations, aligning with its ambition to become the fourth-largest defense exporter globally.

This MOU marks Malaysia's second such agreement with a foreign country. Notably, last week, the two nations reached an agreement to mutually recognize the airworthiness certification of their military aircraft, marking Seoul's first such deal with an Asian nation.