Indonesia and South Korea have agreed to boost strategic partnerships in the defense sector, including intelligence exchange cooperation, a minister said.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu explained the agreement was achieved in the meeting between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and South Korea's defense minister, Song Young-moo, at Merdeka Palace on Wednesday.

They discussed ways to advance mutual cooperation between the two countries.

“The main agenda is to boost bilateral cooperation in many sectors […] including defense, such as Alutsista [primary weaponry defense system],” Ryamizard said.

“Another form of cooperation is in the intelligence sector because our main enemy is terrorists.”

Ryamizard explained that prior to the meeting with Jokowi, Song visited and monitored the construction of a submarine built jointly between Indonesia and South Korea.

The submarine is among three that the Indonesian Navy will procure in 2018 from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.

State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL is responsible for the construction of the submarines because the purchasing contract requires a transfer of technology from Korean firms to an Indonesian firm.

Indonesia and South Korea have also signed an agreement worth US$8 billion for the manufacturing of the Korea Fighter Xperiment and Indonesia Fighter Xperiment (KFX/IFX) jets fighter.

In November last year, Jokowi held a bilateral talk with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, during which the two countries agreed to boost mutual cooperation in many sectors through a special strategic partnership agreement.

"Based on that agreement, we will strengthen our partnership in various sectors, including the diplomacy and defense industry. We will walk alongside Indonesia," Song said. (ebf)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Marguerite Afra Sapiie

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