Germany, South Korea sign secret military treaty

The pact aims to protect military secrets and help “smoothly operate defense industry supply chains,” said Yoon. Chancellor Scholz called on South Korea to invest in Germany’s chip industry after meeting President Yoon in Seoul. Scholz also visited the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula.

Germany and South Korea sign secret military treaty picture 1 — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on an official visit to South Korea. Photo: DPA

Mr Scholz said North Korea's missile and ballistic tests were a sign that "the situation remains dangerous" on the Korean Peninsula. He called on Pyongyang to stop conducting tests.

Mr. Scholz arrived in South Korea on Sunday, after attending the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. He is also the first German chancellor to visit the South Korean capital for a bilateral meeting in 30 years.

Security challenges in the Indo- Pacific , climate change and Russia's Ukraine conflict are on the agenda between the two leaders.

Economic relations are also expected to be a key focus of the visit, as Germany seeks to reduce its economic dependence on China and expand ties with other Asian countries.

Mr Scholz said he hoped South Korea would invest in his country to produce chips. He added that the two countries would work to boost trade ties, especially in high-tech and clean energy.

South Korea is the fourth-largest economy in Asia after China, Japan and India. Mr. Yoon also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 event in Hiroshima last week.

"I hope that South Korea and Germany will further expand bilateral cooperation and look toward the future, and strengthen solidarity for the peace and prosperity of Europe and Asia," Yoon said in his welcoming speech to Scholz.

The German chancellor also visited the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides the Korean Peninsula. He said the visit to the border was important and emotional, as Germany was also divided from 1949 to 1990.

Hoang Nam (according to DW)

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