Chairman of Chiefs of Staff and Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) N.A.K. Browne met South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin on a four-day official visit to Seoul on Monday where he is heading a tri-service delegation of senior Indian military officers.
The South Korean Minister expressed satisfaction at the expanding strategic and defence engagement between the two countries. He underlined the desire for greater cooperation and coordination on regional and international security while appreciating India’s positive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
The IAF Chief is in South Korea at the invitation of his counterpart, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jung Seung-jo, who received him warmly and presented him with a guard of honour.
Both sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of interest. They noted with satisfaction that regular high-level exchanges had enhanced mutual understanding and agreed to continue the practice.
Over the next two days, the Indian delegation will visit South Korea’s military operations and training establishments, as well as defence industries, official reports from Seoul said on Monday.
ACM Browne will also visit the Second Fleet Command located at Pyeongtaek, Air Force Academy, located at Cheongju, Chungbuk as well as the 17th Fighter Wing based at Cheongju, Daegu.
His visit is taking place within the framework of the 40th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. It comes on the heels of the visit of the National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, who was in Seoul from June 30 to July 2.
