 |
| K-9 self-propelled howitzers / Korea Times file |
By Nam Hyun-woo
CAIRO ― President Moon Jae-in will return home from his eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, without inking a deal with Cairo on exports of Korea's K-9 self-propelled howitzers.
According to Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) minister Kang Eun-ho, Friday, the two countries held negotiations over the K-9 deal until just hours before Moon and his delegation were set to leave Cairo.
"As I speak, DAPA officials are in talks with their Egyptian counterparts," Kang told reporters. "We have suggested several options, but it seems the Egyptian side needs time. Even though they give answers before we leave, it will take time for us to respond to them."
Kang's comments came a day after Moon held a summit with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and told reporters in a joint press conference that the two countries recognized the howitzers would be helpful in improving Egypt's military capability, with the leaders agreeing that "the two countries will jointly make efforts to the complete the deal."
The President's visit to Cairo raised expectations that Korea may be able to sign a deal to export the K-9 howitzers to Egypt. If signed, the deal is anticipated to be worth 2 trillion won ($1.68 billion), and Egypt will be the ninth country operating the howitzers.
Against this backdrop, Moon's comment on the K-9 deal at the joint press conference was interpreted as an effort to prevent the negotiations from being protracted and to complete the deal before he leaves Egypt.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, Kang joined a luncheon between Moon and El-Sisi a day earlier and the presidents each asked their defense acquisition chiefs to continue negotiations until the last moment.
However, Kang said Moon later told him not to "push ahead with the negotiations and to engage in talks in a 'wholesome manner' because healthy relations between the two countries are more important than the K-9 deal."
"If there is a time limit or pressure, it will be difficult for negotiators to draw out desirable outcomes," Kang said. "However, the President gave directions to take time for a long-term negotiation, and it was a big help."
Kang said the two sides agreed on various details of the deal, but there are a number of differences, which he refused to elaborate.
He added that Egypt is expressing interest in purchasing Korea's K2 Black Panther battle tank and other weapon systems developed by Korea.
While the negotiations over the howitzers continued, Moon wrapped up his eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He will arrive in Seoul on Saturday.
