By Jun Ji-hye
Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo will visit Egypt and Angola this week to discuss strengthening defense cooperation with the countries, the defense ministry said Monday.
This is part of Seoul's efforts to isolate Pyongyang further in line with tougher sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Hwang will meet with Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhy Tuesday and sign a memorandum of understanding on institutional strategy for defense cooperation which will include increasing high-level exchanges and expanding defense industry cooperation.
The visit followed Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam's trip to Egypt over the weekend during which Lim sought the African country's cooperation on security issues as it is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC.
Egypt was previously friendly with the North, but the Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement criticizing the reclusive state after its fifth nuclear test last September.
On Friday, Hwang will visit Angola and meet with its Defense Minister Joao Lourenco and other ranking military officials to reaffirm the two countries' military cooperation, the ministry added.
The vice defense minister plans to appeal for Angola, a traditional ally of North Korea, to maintain its cooperation with international pressure against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development.
Last December, Defense Minister Han Min-koo held a defense ministerial meeting with Minister Lourenco in Seoul for the first time since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.
"Hwang's visits to Egypt and Angola will be a chance for the nation to enhance substantial defense cooperation further with African countries," the ministry said in a release.
Hwang visited Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya last May to seek such cooperation, the ministry added.
Last year alone, Pyongyang carried out two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles in defiance of the concerted warnings from the international community.
North Korea again fired four ballistic missiles March 6, 22 days after firing a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. The latest launch conducted on March 22 ended in failure as the missile exploded in mid-air shortly after liftoff.
According to 38 North, a U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website, another indication that Pyongyang may be preparing for its sixth nuclear test has also been detected as satellite imagery showed several vehicles or trailers at the entrance to the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
The ministry noted that the North is capable of pushing for its sixth nuclear test at any time once its leadership decides to do so.
Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo will visit Egypt and Angola this week to discuss strengthening defense cooperation with the countries, the defense ministry said Monday.
This is part of Seoul's efforts to isolate Pyongyang further in line with tougher sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Hwang will meet with Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhy Tuesday and sign a memorandum of understanding on institutional strategy for defense cooperation which will include increasing high-level exchanges and expanding defense industry cooperation.
The visit followed Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam's trip to Egypt over the weekend during which Lim sought the African country's cooperation on security issues as it is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC.
Egypt was previously friendly with the North, but the Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement criticizing the reclusive state after its fifth nuclear test last September.
On Friday, Hwang will visit Angola and meet with its Defense Minister Joao Lourenco and other ranking military officials to reaffirm the two countries' military cooperation, the ministry added.
The vice defense minister plans to appeal for Angola, a traditional ally of North Korea, to maintain its cooperation with international pressure against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development.
Last December, Defense Minister Han Min-koo held a defense ministerial meeting with Minister Lourenco in Seoul for the first time since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.
"Hwang's visits to Egypt and Angola will be a chance for the nation to enhance substantial defense cooperation further with African countries," the ministry said in a release.
Hwang visited Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya last May to seek such cooperation, the ministry added.
Last year alone, Pyongyang carried out two nuclear tests and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles in defiance of the concerted warnings from the international community.
North Korea again fired four ballistic missiles March 6, 22 days after firing a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. The latest launch conducted on March 22 ended in failure as the missile exploded in mid-air shortly after liftoff.
According to 38 North, a U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website, another indication that Pyongyang may be preparing for its sixth nuclear test has also been detected as satellite imagery showed several vehicles or trailers at the entrance to the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
The ministry noted that the North is capable of pushing for its sixth nuclear test at any time once its leadership decides to do so.
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