Seoul: The top military officers of South Korea and Turkey met in Seoul on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and exchange their assessments on global security, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo and his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Metin Gurak, shared the view that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and growing military cooperation with Russia pose threats not only to the Korean Peninsula, but to the world. The discussions also included measures to prepare for future combat, focusing on coordination between manned and unmanned systems.
Adm. Kim highlighted the importance of continued cooperation, referencing Turkey's support for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. He also pointed out the significant ties between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, of which Turkey is a member, and the Indo-Pacific region.
Following the talks, Gen. Gurak met with acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho to discuss ways to enhance defense and arms industry cooperation. During his four-day visit to South Korea, Gen. Gurak also paid his respects at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, honoring those who lost their lives during the Korean War.