Seoul: South Korea's proposed cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is aimed at enhancing their own respective contributions to global peace and stability, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, in its first response to recent concerns by Russia over what it described as growing military cooperation between Seoul and NATO.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the cooperation between South Korea and NATO is intended to strengthen each side's capabilities across various sectors, including defense industry, new technologies, and cybersecurity, to reinforce their roles and contributions to international peace and stability. The ministry emphasized that these efforts are directed at enhancing mutual capabilities rather than any specific military objectives.

Additionally, the South Korean government is making efforts to maintain stable relations with Russia. The ministry noted that necessary communication is ongoing with the Russian side to manage South Korea-Russia relations effectively and ensure the protection of South Korean people and companies.