Manila: Senior diplomats of South Korea and the Philippines discussed cooperation against transnational crime during regular bilateral talks in Manila, Seoul's foreign ministry said. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo met his Philippine counterpart, Hellen De La Vega, to address the issue.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park called for strengthening cooperation with ASEANAPOL, a regional police organization, to tackle transnational crime, including scam centers operating in the region. He expressed gratitude to Manila for its efforts to ensure the safety of South Koreans in the country and requested support for South Korean companies' participation in the Philippine military's modernization projects.
South Korea has recently intensified efforts to combat crimes against its citizens in Southeast Asia, following reports of abductions and confinements in Cambodia linked to scam operations.