S. Korea to upgrade arms development cooperation with U.S.: official

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will sign a
preliminary agreement this week authorizing the allies to step up their
cooperation in arms development, Seoul's defense acquisition agency said Tuesday.

The two sides have been limited to theoretical studies in their efforts to
jointly create weapons systems, according to the Defense Acquisition Program
Administration (DAPA).
Thursday's annual meeting between the top arms acquisition officials of the two
countries will lead to the signing of an agreement that will upgrade the
cooperation to testing and development, a DAPA official said.
"The agreement should allow for the joint development of dozens of defense
systems under study," the official said by phone, speaking on customary condition
of anonymity.
The meeting between Byun Moo-keun of South Korea and Ashton Carter of the U.S. in
Washington is also a follow-up to last month's security talks between their
defense ministers, DAPA said in a statement.
At the annual talks, South Korea and the United States agreed to deepen their
cooperation in deterring North Korea, with Washington pledging to provide all
possible means of defense in the event of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea is one of the largest buyers of U.S. weapons. About 28,500 American
troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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