Korea, Romania agree to strengthen strategic partnership at summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis agreed to boost cooperation in the defense and nuclear energy sectors at a bilateral summit in Seoul on Tuesday.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and his Romanian President Klaus Iohannis review an honor guard at an official welcoming ceremony ahead of their bilateral summit at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Tuesday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis agreed to boost cooperation in the defense and nuclear energy sectors at a bilateral summit in Seoul on Tuesday.

The two leaders issued a joint statement agreeing to strengthen the strategic partnership established in September 2008, including increasing cooperation in the defense industry through the joint production of weapons and defense technology cooperation.

According to the joint statement, the two sides "reaffirmed their commitment to continue their bilateral dialogue and consultations on defense-related issues, including through the Joint Defense Industry and Logistics Committee, to exchange information and to increase their cooperation in the defense industry field, through joint production of military equipment and defense technology cooperation."

They also agreed to cooperate in the fields of military education and training, military medicine, sports and cultural exchanges, and exchange of information and experience.

Last November, Romania placed an order for Korea's Chiron surface-to-air missiles, manufactured by LIG Nex1, and negotiations are underway to discuss the export of various weapons systems to the country.

Romania reportedly purchased the Chiron system as part of its strategic umbrella program to acquire anti-aircraft missiles for the Romanian Armed Forces.

Korea is also in the final stages of negotiating a contract to export K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers worth 850 million euros ($905 million) to Romania, said a presidential official.

The two countries also discussed cooperation in the nuclear energy sector and committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels, according to the joint statement.

They agreed to take "full advantage of all opportunities to the benefit of their citizens, in such extensive areas as politics, security, economy, environment, culture and education."

The leaders further stressed the need for closer cooperation to address challenges to the rules-based international order, including Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the threats posed by North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs and its military cooperation with Russia.

They agreed to address disruptions in the global supply chains affecting economic security, the uneven post-pandemic economic recovery, energy, food and water insecurity, the effects of climate change, the misuse of emerging and disruptive technologies and cyber threats.

The leaders "condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," saying it "represents a brutal violation of international law."

Iohannis arrived in Korea on Monday for a four-day official visit.

Yoon greeted Iohannis at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Tuesday morning. The two leaders then held bilateral talks and a ceremony to sign memorandums of agreement on cooperation in areas including defense, nuclear power plants, cultural exchanges and disaster and safety management.

The two countries signed accords in five sectors: defense cooperation, nuclear energy, cultural and sports exchanges, disaster and safety management, and bilateral trade and investment.

The first ladies of the two countries didn't participate in the official welcoming ceremony.

First lady Kim Keon Hee resumed her official activities for the first time in some 130 days, conducting separate activities with Romania's first lady, Carmen Iohannis, though they were not immediately made public.

Kim was last seen in public on Dec. 15, after she returned from a state visit with Yoon to the Netherlands.

This marks the first visit to Seoul by Iohannis, who took office in 2014. Yoon and Iohannis previously held a bilateral summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July last year.

Iohannis is expected to visit a Doosan Enerbility plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on Wednesday as the two countries expand their cooperation in the nuclear and renewable energy sectors.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]