South Korea, Poland Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed on Monday to elevate their countries' bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with defense cooperation serving as the cornerstone amid ongoing global security challenges.

The leaders held summit talks at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, marking the first visit by a Polish prime minister to South Korea in 27 years. Tusk arrived on Sunday for the two-day trip, his initial journey to a non-European nation since assuming office in December 2023. Following the summit, they addressed reporters jointly, outlining plans to deepen ties across multiple sectors.

Defense emerged as the primary focus, building on a 44.2 billion framework agreement signed in July 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Under the pact, Poland has acquired South Korean military hardware, including K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. Lee emphasized the steady implementation of these deals, stating that the partnership extends beyond sales to joint production, technology transfers, and training programs. "K2 tanks,...