Assembly speaker discusses defense, shipbuilding cooperation with Greek president

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik met with Greek President Constantine Tassoulas and Greek parliamentary leader Nikitas Kaklamanis on Monday in Athens to discuss defense and shipbuilding cooperation, according to his office. Cho conveyed his optimism that South Korean companies could bolster Greece's defense capabilities in the face of escalating security threats in Europe.

The two nations, Cho emphasized, share a "blood-forged" connection from their shared experiences during the 1950-53 Korean War, where Greece sent around 10,000 troops to South Korea despite lacking diplomatic ties at the time. Cho expressed enthusiasm for deepening cooperation in the shipbuilding and shipping sectors, with hopes of expanding it to encompass advanced technologies and defense in the future.

In a separate meeting with his Greek parliamentary counterpart, Cho stated that the two countries should broaden their bilateral cooperation beyond shipbuilding and shipping into areas of advanced technologies and defense. Cho is currently on a four-nation tour, visiting Italy, Vatican City, Croatia, and Greece, marking his first overseas trip since assuming office in June.