The top military officers of South Korea and Canada held phone talks Friday to discuss ways to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, Seoul’s military said.

The talks between Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo and his Canadian counterpart, Gen. Wayne Eyre, took place at the Canadian side’s request to share details of its update to its defense policy released last month, according to the JCS.

The document outlines Canada’s efforts to maintain military readiness, such as boosting defense spending, and points out the need to respond to challenges from Russia and China.

During their talks, the two sides shared their assessment of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, and discussed ways to enhance military cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region, the JCS said.

“The two sides shared the view that South Korea and Canada have to expand their scope of cooperation in terms of the military and the arms industry for peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” it said.

S
outh Korean companies have recently sought to expand their foothold in the Canadian maritime defense sector as the Royal Canadian Navy seeks to replace its aging fleet of Victoria-class submarines with new models.

Source: Yonhap News Agency