Exports of K9 self-propelled howitzers worth KRW 1.3 trillion will go to Romania. (Hanwha Aerospace's official Facebook page)

By Lee Dasom

Domestically developed K9 self-propelled howitzers will be exported to Romania.

The Ministry of National Defense on June 19 announced that its Romanian counterpart agreed on a deal worth KRW 1.3 trillion for the weapon in a bilateral summit of defense chiefs that day at the Romanian Ministry of National Defence in Bucharest.

The order is the largest weapons procurement by the Eastern European country in seven years. Korea's defense industry is seen to expand sales in Europe through the latest contract with Romania, following one with Poland for the same weapon.

"Korea will be the optimal partner in Romania's ongoing project to modernize its military," Minister of National Defense Shin Wonsik said after thanking his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar for the order. 

"Korea hopes to go beyond simple arms sales and lead the stimulation of varying cooperation in national defense and the defense industry such as joint production, cross-training between operational units and personnel exchanges."

At their talks, the two ministers agreed to achieve and push for practical cooperation projects in a range of sectors such as military education and training, sports and culture, exchanges of information and experience, the defense industry, and science and technology under a bilateral agreement on defense cooperation signed at the two countries' summit in April.

dlektha0319@korea.kr