Phl, South Korea seek stronger defense cooperation

The Philippines and South Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense cooperation, particularly in military modernization, defense technology and joint training.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with South Korean Defense Minister Shin-chul Kang on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus in Cebu.

Teodoro congratulated Kang on his appointment and expressed the Philippines' readiness to deepen military cooperation between the two countries.

He also thanked South Korea for commemorating the heroism of Filipino soldier Capt. Conrado Yap, who received the country's highest military decoration for bravery during the Korean War.

Describing the Philippines and South Korea as brother-and-sister nations, Teodoro highlighted their longstanding defense partnership and growing people-to-people ties.

The defense chief cited the participation of Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets, manufactured in South Korea, in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 as an example of expanding military cooperation.

He expressed interest in pursuing further capability upgrades and strengthening defense industry partnerships to address the Philippines' evolving security requirements.

Teodoro also proposed closer collaboration between the Philippine Marine Corps and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps to improve interoperability and operational readiness.

The proposed cooperation includes language training, basic and advanced military instruction, and personnel exchanges.

Kang emphasized the importance of military education and training in developing defense capabilities and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The officials also discussed security developments on the Korean Peninsula, with Teodoro expressing Philippine support for South Korea amid concerns involving North Korea.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing practical defense cooperation to contribute to regional security and stability.