South Korea asked for Indonesia’s active cooperation to complete the joint fighter jet development project that has been delayed due to Jakarta’s suspended payment, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Wednesday.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun made the call during the second session of the bilateral strategic dialogue with his Indonesian counterpart, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, held in Seoul earlier in the day, the ministry said.

Indonesia has agreed to shoulder about 20 percent of the 8.1 trillion won (US$6.07 billion) project, launched in 2015, to develop the KF-21 fighter jet, through 2026, in return for receiving one prototype and technology transfer, and producing 48 units in the country.

Jakarta has been inconsistent in its commitment and had held off on payments for nearly two years. It is estimated to have only paid about 278 billion won so far, with almost 1 trillion won in arrears.

Kim requested Indonesia’s help so that the project can be completed in a smooth manner, and Pahala said his countr
y will make active efforts to achieve completion, the ministry said.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul also delivered the government’s call to his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, when they met one-on-one on the margins of the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Group of 20 nations in Brazil last month.

In Wednesday’s talks, Kim also expressed hope that South Korea and Indonesia will expand cooperation in electric vehicles (EV), batteries and the supply chain of critical minerals, calling Indonesia a key Southeast Asian partner for economic security.

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, a vital component of EV batteries, and known to have the largest nickel reserves in the world.

South Korea’s auto giant Hyundai Motor Group and top battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd. formed a $1.1 billion joint venture to build an EV battery cell plant in the east of Jakarta.

Source: Yonhap News Agency