Malaysia, South Korea To Sign Defence Industry MoU In October
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- South Korea and Malaysia are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation this October, marking a significant step towards deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Malaysia Yeo Sung-bae said the agreement would make South Korea only the second country with which Malaysia has forged both defence and defence industry partnerships.
He said President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim share a firm commitment to strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership.
“Starting with a phone call with Prime Minister Anwar soon after taking office, President Lee dispatched his special envoy in July — unprecedented steps that reinforce trust between Korea and Malaysia.
“These engagements pave the way for the upcoming bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Anwar and President Lee in October, where the defence cooperation MoU is expected to be signed,” he said at the Malaysia–Korea Third Defence Industry Cooperation Seminar here on Monday.
Also present was Malaysia's Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The MoU is expected to be signed during a meeting between Lee and Anwar on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit here in October.
Meanwhile, Yeo expressed optimism about the future of South Korea–Malaysia defence industry cooperation, noting that both countries face common challenges such as cyberattacks, drones, and maritime security threats.
“These asymmetric threats are best addressed together, and defence industry collaboration, including artificial intelligence (AI), will be one of the key solutions,” he said.
He added that AI is emerging as a game-changer in modern defence systems, with Seoul set to double its defence AI research and development budget next year, open a dedicated AI defence centre, and establish a committee to strengthen governance in the field.
Yeo said Korean defence companies are also moving swiftly, citing initiatives such as next-generation fighter development, unmanned surface vessels, AI-based combat systems, and autonomous navigation capabilities, with some already being embedded in systems developed with Malaysia.
“Korean companies are committed to growing together with their Malaysian partners. These capabilities will support Malaysia’s Defence Industry Policy vision of building a self-reliant defence sector,” he added.
Meanwhile, the seminar drew about 150 participants, including government officials, academics, and defence industry representatives from both countries. It featured presentations on artificial intelligence (AI) policies and discussions on the application of AI in defence, as well as potential areas for future collaboration.
More than 20 Malaysian defence companies, together with major South Korean defence firms, also took part, providing opportunities for meaningful exchanges between government and private sector stakeholders from both sides.
-- BERNAMA
