Yoon discusses defense cooperation, Ukraine with Polish counterpart

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a bilateral summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday aimed at deepening cooperation in strategic sectors and discussing efforts to support Ukraine's postwar reconstruction.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Polish President Andrzej Duda shake hands at their joint press conference after their bilateral summit at the presidential palace in Warsaw on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a bilateral summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday aimed at deepening cooperation in strategic sectors and discussing efforts to support Ukraine's postwar reconstruction.

Korea and Poland "can be optimal partners in rebuilding Ukraine," Yoon said in a joint press conference with Duda after their bilateral summit at the presidential palace in the Polish capital.

He stressed that their agreements on infrastructure cooperation will lay a good foundation for cooperation for the reconstruction of Ukraine, which borders Poland. Because of its location, Poland serves as a key hub for aid to Ukraine and a stronghold for future reconstruction projects.

Yoon described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "challenge to freedom, human rights and the rule of law of the international community," stressing that the two countries decided to "continue our support for ending the war and restoring peace."

Duda in the press conference expressed hopes not only to import weapons from Korea but to produce Korean weapons in Poland as well.

He said there were discussions of exporting Polish agricultural and livestock products to the Korean market as well.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, and Polish President Andrzej Duda, right, observe an honor guard at an official welcoming ceremony ahead of their bilateral summit at the presidential palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Earlier that day, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon-hee were greeted by Polish President Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda in a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace.

It was followed by a summit meeting between the two countries' leaders, which focused on ways to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership established in 2013 in areas including economy, security and human exchange.

It was an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen economic cooperation in areas including the defense industry, nuclear power plants and infrastructure projects.

The two sides also signed a series of memoranda of understanding, including on infrastructure cooperation and reconstruction efforts related to Ukraine. They also signed a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework aimed at strengthening supply chain cooperation and removing trade barriers.

Yoon also said in the press conference that the two sides agreed to actively support cooperation between their companies "for the successful construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland."

He added the two sides also "strongly condemned" North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch this week.

Yoon said they denounced North Korea's continued development of nuclear and missile programs which comes at the expense of its people's "human rights and right to live," calling for redoubled efforts to improve Pyongyang's human rights situation while blocking its illegal overseas workers and cyber activities.

Yoon is the first Korean president to visit Poland in 14 years since then-President Lee Myung-bak's trip in 2009.

The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1989, and Poland is the largest buyer of Korean weapons.

In August 2022, Poland and Korean arms companies Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense Systems signed a $5.8 billion deal to export K2 Black Panther battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers to the European country. Hanwha Defense also signed a contract last year to supply Poland with Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers.

The first Korean FA-50 light attack aircraft was delivered to Poland on Sunday. This is part of a deal for Korea Aerospace Industries to deliver 12 FA-50s before the end of the year according to a contract with Poland's Armament Agency to supply Warsaw with 48 FA-50 aircraft.

The arms deals signed last year amount to an estimated total of some 20 trillion won ($15.6 billion).

"Korea will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine through close cooperation with Poland, one of its leading supporters in Europe," Yoon wrote in an opinion piece published by Rzeczpospolita, a Polish daily publication, on Wednesday. He said the two countries will also cooperate in establishing peace in Ukraine and rebuilding the country when the war with Russia ends.

Yoon highlighted that the export of Korean weapons to Poland was "unprecedented," noting major arms deals for K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers signed with Poland last year.

Yoon said these arms export contracts "will greatly contribute to strengthening Poland's defense capability as well as defense cooperation between Korea and Poland in the future."

He further expressed hopes that the defense industry cooperation will expand into the areas of technology transfers and joint research and development.

Yoon called for a "mutually beneficial economic cooperation relationship" in areas such as high-tech industries including clean energy, batteries, electric vehicles and information and technology. He urged for close cooperation in dealing with complex global crises such as the climate crisis and supply chain instability.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, and Polish President Andrzej Duda, center right, accompanied by their first ladies, Kim Keon-hee and Agata Kornhauser-Duda, take part in an official welcoming ceremony ahead of their bilateral summit in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Yoon and first lady Kim arrived in Poland on Wednesday evening to begin a three-day official visit after taking part in the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

At a meeting of leaders of NATO allies and partner countries on Wednesday, Yoon said the Korean government will contribute to NATO's trust fund for Ukraine and pledged continued humanitarian assistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the NATO summit and expressed disappointment at the weak language of the Atlantic allies' joint communiqué.

Separately, Kim met with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius, a facility for Ukrainians seeking refuge in Lithuania, on Wednesday, according to the presidential office, alongside the spouses of other leaders attending the NATO summit.

Zelenska previously visited Seoul last May and requested to Yoon nonlethal aid to Ukraine, such as equipment for detecting and removing mines and ambulances. Yoon later met with Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May and promised continued humanitarian and non-lethal assistance for Ukraine. They also agreed to cooperate on Korean companies' participation in postwar reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

Despite pressure to provide artillery shells to Ukraine, either directly or indirectly, Korea has officially maintained the position it will not provide lethal aid to countries at war.

Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee, center, poses for a photo with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, left, and Lithuania’s Diana Nausediene, right, at the Ukrainian Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Kim and Zelenska met in Seoul in May. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Later Wednesday evening, Yoon and Kim met with some 80 Koreans living in Poland for a dinner event.

"The Korean community in Poland is making a big impact in the international community by providing lodging and daily necessities to ethnic Koreans and Ukrainian refugees who fled to Poland to escape Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year," Yoon said.

The two countries recorded the largest trade volume ever at $9 billion dollars last year, he noted, and that more than 300 Korean companies are active in Poland, according to the presidential office.

Later Thursday, Yoon was scheduled to hold separate talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Elzbieta Witek, chair of the lower house of the Polish parliament, and Tomasz Grodzki, chair of the upper house.

Yoon will also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and attend an official dinner.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, receives a bouquet from a girl wearing hanbok during a meeting with Korean residents in Poland at a hotel in Warsaw Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Yoon was accompanied by an 89-member business delegation including executives of top conglomerates including LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Chairman Jung Won-ju.

They are scheduled to take part in the Korea-Poland business forum on Friday.

The sides were expected to sign memoranda of understanding in sectors including high-tech industries and infrastructure.

Yoon will also meet with students at the University of Warsaw during the trip.

This marks Yoon's first bilateral visit to a European country since he took office last year.

Yoon and Kim wrap up their six-day trip Saturday.

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