What did South Korea and France agree on during their defense talks in Paris?

They agreed to strengthen strategic coordination in response to deepening North Korea-Russia military ties. The talks also produced plans to reinforce bilateral defense cooperation through institutional measures and more military exchanges.

Why are South Korea and France coordinating more closely on security issues?

The ministry said the coordination is meant to respond to deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia. The two sides also linked security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, saying both regions are increasingly connected.

What specific defense cooperation steps did South Korea and France discuss?

They discussed revising their bilateral agreement on classified military information sharing. They also agreed to enhance interoperability through combined exercises and other military exchanges.

S. Korea, France discuss strategic coordination amid deepening NK-Russia ties

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Summary

South Korea and France agreed to bolster strategic coordination in Paris on Friday amid deepening North Korea-Russia military ties. Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Kim Hong-cheol and Guillaume Ollagnier discussed security issues for the Korean Peninsula and Europe. The two sides also agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, including revising their classified military information-sharing agreement and expanding combined exercises.

Key Facts

Kim Hong-cheol held the strategic dialogue with Guillaume Ollagnier in Paris on Friday local time.
The talks covered North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and the security situations in the Korean Peninsula and Europe.
The two sides said they would strengthen the institutional basis for defense cooperation by revising their agreement on classified military information sharing.
They also agreed to improve military interoperability through combined exercises and other exchanges.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 29, 2026 12:40 pm KST

Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Kim Hong-cheol speaks during a public hearing on an integration plan to combine the military academies of the three military branches in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Defense officials of South Korea and France have agreed to bolster strategic coordination in the face of deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, Seoul's defense ministry said Saturday.

Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Kim Hong-cheol discussed security issues concerning the Korean Peninsula and Europe with Guillaume Ollagnier, director-general for international relations and strategy at the French Ministry for the Armed Forces and Veterans, during their strategic dialogue in Paris on Friday (local time).

Exchanging assessments on North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral coordination given the increasing links between the security in the Europe and that in the Indo-Pacific.

Kim outlined Korea's policy toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, and asked for France's continued attention and support to that end.

The officials also agreed to strengthen the institutional basis for defense cooperation, such as by revising the bilateral agreement on classified military information sharing.

They agreed to enhance interoperability between their militaries through combined exercises and other military exchanges.

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