Vice defense chiefs of Korea, Kazakhstan discuss arms cooperation

Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee, left, shakes hands with Kairat Sadykov, Kazakhstan's deputy minister of defense, in their meeting to discuss arms cooperation in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee met with his Kazakhstani counterpart Wednesday to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in defense and the arms industry, officials said.

Lee held talks with Kairat Sadykov, Kazakhstan's deputy minister of defense, on the sidelines of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition 2025, which runs from Oct. 17-24, according to the defense ministry.

During the talks, Lee highlighted Kazakhstan's role as Korea's biggest trading partner in Central Asia, driven by active cooperation in developing automobiles and mineral resources.

He also expressed hope that the two countries will establish friendly relations and deepen their cooperation in the defense and arms industries, noting that some 120,000 ethnic Koreans reside in the region.

Sadykov expressed hope that the two countries would further expand their cooperation into various sectors based on the mutual understanding and trust they have built over the years.