South Korea News Update (05-04-2024)

These and other valuable news updates can be found in the PIB Newsletter shared with the members of our cluster. Want to receive this information early? Contact the cluster coordinator and join the PIB!

March 27, 2024 - Hanwha Aerospace from South Korea Competes in Latvia with Its K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle - Citing information reported by the South Korean business magazine "Business Korea" on March 27, 2023, Latvia appears to be leaning towards enhancing its military capabilities with the addition of South Korea's advanced K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). Manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace, the K21 is in the running to become the cornerstone of Latvia's armed forces' combat vehicles arsenal. Read more

March 27, 2024 - Military seeks to acquire around 60 small, micro spy satellites by 2030 - South Korea's military seeks to acquire around 60 small and micro-sized spy satellites by 2030, a source said Wednesday, amid efforts to bolster independent monitoring capabilities against North Korean threats. Read more

March 19, 2024 - Huneed Technologies chief re-elected to head Korea Defense Industry Association - Huneed Technologies Chairman Eugene Kim has been re-elected as chief of the Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA), a local business association representing defense companies. The announcement was made during the KDIA’s annual meeting at Seoul Garden Hotel in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Tuesday. The appointment will extend Kim's chairmanship into a second term, after first being named the 17th head of KDIA in February 2021. Read more

March 10, 2024 - South Korea arms exports keep rising as Ukraine war goes on - South Korea has built on its manufacturing prowess to become one of the world’s top 10 weapons uppliers as it sells to European nations and the US amid the Ukraine-Russia war. Read more

March 10, 2024 - Defence Cluster Plans - Greece received on Wednesday three new US-made Romeo MH-60R Seahawk helicopters that will be joining the Hellenic Navy. The ceremony took place at the Kotroni Air Base, near Marathon in East Attica, where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a brief address, emphasizing the dangers Greece faces from Turkey despite improving relations. “Despite the calmness that currently prevails in the Aegean, we must not forget that our neighbors to the east are also accelerating their own armaments program. Approaches are always imperative, but under no circumstances are illusions allowed. Read more

March 20, 2024 - The U.S. Sends Large Amounts of Military Equipment to Greece - An American cargo ship, Leroy A. Mendonica, unloaded Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks in northern Greece. Greek media reported that the American cargo ship Leroy A. Mendonica unloaded moved approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment, including Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks, at the port of Alexandroupolis in northern Greece for the 3rd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division’s rotational deployment in Europe of NATO. The Russian News Agency claimed that the heavy vehicles were transported to Eastern Europe. Read more