President Lee Jae Myung on Feb. 10 holds a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Kim Hyelin

President Lee Jae Myung on Feb. 10 spoke over the phone in Seoul to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on bilateral cooperation in the defense industry.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon in a written news briefing said President Lee that afternoon at Cheong Wa Dae discussed with Secretary General Rutte responding to global security challenges and expanding ties between Seoul and NATO.

Both sides agreed on the need for continued cooperation to tackle such issues amid the growing security interconnection between the Indo-Pacific region and Europe, pledging to maintain close communication on key issues like the war in Ukraine and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee said that based on its excellent capacity in the defense industry, Seoul is the "optimal partner" that has built cooperative ties with NATO member states, adding, "Let's pursue substantial cooperation in the defense industry through bodies like the Korea-NATO consultative body on the sector launched last year."

Praising Korea's capacity in the industry, Secretary General Rutte pledged to keep supporting the expansion of bilateral cooperation in that sector.

Both sides also agreed to continue efforts to deepen bilateral ties in other industries like space and information sharing.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr