SEOUL – Romania will acquire $920 million worth of South Korea’s K-9 self-propelled howitzers, marking its largest weapon acquisition in seven years, according to South Korea’s defence ministry on Wednesday.
The deal was announced during a meeting between South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar, during Shin’s visit to the Eastern European country.
Both ministers agreed that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the security of Europe and Asia, emphasizing the need for close cooperation with the international community in response.
In April, South Korean and Romanian leaders held a summit and pledged to enhance defence industry cooperation. Romania’s decision to purchase K-9 howitzers, following Poland’s lead, will expand the footprint of South Korea’s defence industry in Europe, the South Korean defence ministry said.
South Korea is striving to establish itself as the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter. Minister Shin is scheduled to visit Poland for a three-day trip later on Wednesday, where he will meet Polish Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss defence and arms industry cooperation.