S.Korea defence minister heads to Middle East for talks, arms expo

South Korea’s defence minister Shin Won-sik departs on Thursday for a seven-day trip to the Middle East to hold ministerial talks and attend an arms exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
During his trip, Shin will hold talks with his counterpart, Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, in the United Arab Emirates and meet South Korean troops from a special warfare contingent known as the Akh Unit deployed there since 2011.
The country’s defence minister, he will also travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for the World Defense Show in Riyadh before heading to Qatar to meet Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah.
Data from the defence ministry showed, South Korea has emerged in recent years as one of the world’s biggest arms exporters with sales jumping to $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the year before.
The country’s arms exports to the Middle East grew nearly tenfold between 2013 and 2022, according to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.