Polish President Duda Visits Hanwha Aerospace, Underscoring Growing Military Ties with South Korea
Seoul, South Korea – Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the Changwon factory of HanwhaAerospace, a leading South Korean defense company, on October 25th, during his state visit to the country. This marked the first time a foreign head of statehas visited a facility owned by the Hanwha Group.
President Duda’s visit focused on the K9 self-propelled howitzer production line, a keyproduct in South Korea’s defense industry. He was accompanied by Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-gwan, with whom he discussed expanding military cooperation between Hanwha and Poland.
Prior to inspecting the K9 production line, PresidentDuda toured a display of other Hanwha defense systems, including the K9, the Cheonmoo multiple rocket launcher system, the multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle, the Cheongung mid-range low-altitude missilelaunch platform, and the Tiger wheeled armored vehicle.
This visit signifies the growing strategic partnership between Poland and South Korea in the defense sector. Poland has been a major customer of South Korean weapons systems, including the K9 howitzer, which is currently being deployed by the Polish Army.
The visitcomes at a time when both countries face increasing security challenges in their respective regions. Poland, a NATO member, is seeking to bolster its defense capabilities in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. South Korea, meanwhile, is facing growing tensions with North Korea and its expanding nuclear weapons program.
President Duda’s visit to HanwhaAerospace highlights the importance of South Korea’s defense industry as a reliable partner for countries seeking to strengthen their military capabilities. It also underscores the growing strategic partnership between Poland and South Korea, which is expected to further deepen in the years to come.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, October 25). Polish President Duda Visits Hanwha Aerospace. Retrieved from https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20241025000000004?input=1195m
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