S. Korea, Saudi Arabia mull cooperation in military industry

South Korea and Saudi Arabia are in the final stage of talks over large-scale defense industry cooperation in areas including anti-aircraft defense systems and firearms, a South Korean presidential official said, Report informs, citing Yonhap.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the revelation to reporters while accompanying South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on a four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia.

"The defense industry is emerging as a blue ocean in our cooperation with Saudi Arabia," he said. "Large-scale defense industry cooperation discussions are in the final stage, in various areas such as antiaircraft defense systems and firearms."

Kim said the two sides are discussing defense industry cooperation programs that are not one-off, but "long-term and systematic."