The Defense Ministry announced that Deputy Minister Lee Doo-hee hosted the first Korea-U.S. Defense and Defense Industry Conference in Washington, D.C. on June 23.
The conference, aimed at strengthening defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries, was attended by over 120 participants, including Acting Assistant Secretary of State Michael Bacarro, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha, government and military officials, and key figures from academia and industry.
The first session focused on "Defense Industry Cooperation as a Pillar of the Korea-U.S. Alliance," featuring expert panel discussions on specific measures for enhancing defense cooperation, including in the shipbuilding and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) sectors.
The second session addressed "Deepening Cooperation in Advanced Fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)," emphasizing the need for expanded defense collaboration in joint development of advanced weapon systems, market entry, and supply chain cooperation to respond to changes in future battlefield environments.
Deputy Minister Lee stated, "I hope the Korea-U.S. alliance can evolve into a strategic partnership that builds technological innovation and industrial foundations beyond security cooperation."
Acting Assistant Secretary Bacarro emphasized, "South Korea is a reliable partner and ally of the United States, and I hope our defense cooperation will be further strengthened."
Additionally, prior to the conference, Deputy Minister Lee hosted a meeting with South Korean defense industry companies operating in the U.S. on June 22, in collaboration with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), where he listened to their suggestions and promised swift government action and active support.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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