SoKor’s defense minister arriving tomorrow for security talks

MANILA, Philippines - South Korea’s defense minister will be in the country tomorrow to discuss prevailing regional security and defense issues with his counterpart, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Director Arsenio Andolong of the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, Department of National Defense (DND) said South Korean Defense Minister Han Minkoo will be at Camp Aguinaldo Monday morning.

The visit of Minkoo comes as President Aquino has recently approved funds for stalled key defense projects such as the acquisition of two new frigates and other big ticket items.

A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Aguinaldo Room of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Commissioned Officers’ Club.

Andolong did not discuss the details of the visit but insiders hinted that high on the agenda is the AFP modernization program.

South Korea has been a major source of the country’s defense equipment, aside from being an ally in major disaster undertakings.

The Korean troops were the last to leave Yolanda-hit Leyte to help typhoon victims. They stayed for a year around.

“It’s already expected,” the source said, adding that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expecting delivery of two of 50 FA-50 fighter jets the government has acquired from South Korea on a government-to-government contract by yearend.

The multi-role fighter jets, manufactured and supplied by Korea Aerospace Industries, are now undergoing a series of routine flight tests in South Korea.

The acquisition of the jets signals the military’s shift from internal to territorial and external defense in response to the growing security concerns due to China’s aggression in the Kalayaan Island Group.

Beijing is currently building naval and air bases on three of seven man-made islands out of the formerly obscure maritime features they have occupied in the Spratlys archipelago. 

Aside from fighter jets, the DND is also eyeing two new missile-firing frigates from South Korea to boost the Philippine Navy’s maritime defense capabilities.

South Korea has been supplying the AFP with thousands of medium-size military vehicles to replace the United States’ military Humvees.