Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced cooperation and coordination between his country and South Korea on various levels, primarily in defense industries and nuclear energy. In a joint press conference held Monday evening in Ankara with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, President Erdogan explained that he and Lee discussed the possibility of joint steps in the defense industry between their two countries. He added that consultations between relevant Turkish and South Korean institutions are ongoing regarding cooperation on the construction of a nuclear power plant.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan stated, “Our diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea began in 1957, and in 2012 we established a strategic partnership between our two countries.” He continued, “We fought side by side in the Korean War, and we are now brothers in blood.” Regarding the Palestinian issue, President Erdogan affirmed that Turkey and South Korea support the two-state solution and advocate for a ceasefire and an end to the killing of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Erdogan said that his country will continue to support “all diplomatic initiatives to ensure lasting peace, especially the Istanbul negotiations on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.” He also mentioned that he sees potential for joint work between Turkey and South Korea in various regions, including Syria, Gaza, Iraq, Africa, Central Asia, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
For his part, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung affirmed that his country’s relations with Turkey are deeply rooted and have evolved throughout history, noting that he discussed with President Erdogan “strengthening and developing our bilateral relations in several strategic areas.” The South Korean president expressed his satisfaction with Turkey’s participation “in the infrastructure sector,” saying, “We will continue this cooperation.”
Prior to the press conference, officials from Turkey and South Korea signed a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries, covering energy, defense industries, infrastructure, transportation, science and technology, and mutual investments. The South Korean president had arrived in Ankara earlier on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.