(LEAD) S. Korea develops domestic guidelines on NATO standards to help boost defense exports

South Korea has introduced new guidelines to assist defense companies in meeting NATO's technical standards for arms exports, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). These guidelines aim to streamline the process previously managed by individual companies. Under the new system, DAPA will directly obtain unclassified standards from NATO's online database and provide them to contractors.

For classified standards, DAPA will seek authorization from NATO. This move is expected to facilitate compliance with NATO standards, including equipment specifications and security protocols. DAPA Minister Kim Yong-cheol stated that the guidelines will enable defense companies to enter NATO's defense market more efficiently, including arms exports and international joint research and development projects.

The guidelines will also support Korean defense firms seeking to expand their export markets to regions like Latin America, where NATO compatibility is often a requirement. South Korea has been collaborating with NATO to establish these standards, including through a special security administrative arrangement and a high-level defense consultative meeting.