SEOUL, 29 November 2016 ? The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) expressed readi-ness to broaden bilateral security cooperation following the first official talks between the two countries' top defense and military officials in Seoul during the visit of Philippine Secretary of Na-tional Defense (SND) Delfin N. Lorenzana to Korea on 24-27 November 2016.

Secretary Lorenzana, accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez, Gen-eral Ricardo Purismo Ramoran Visaya, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Lt. General Edgar Restor Fallorina, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), met with ROK Defense Minister Han Min-koo and their counterparts at the Ministry of Defense in Seoul.

Secretary Lorenzana, who assumed his post upon the inauguration of Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte in June, proposed broadening current defense and military engagements in the field of personnel training and education, and exploring possible joint exercises on disaster response and terrorism. Minister Han instructed his Joint Chiefs of Staff to look into the suggestion.

The two ministers also discussed further possibilities to boost the Philippines' armed forces modernization plan. Minister Han expressed appreciation to his counterpart for the Philippines' support during the Korean War and subsequent reconstruction, as well as Korea's current diplomatic ef-forts to counter the provocations of North Korea at the United Nations and other forums.

The Philippine delegation also met with with officials of Korean defense corporations, including a visit to the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) in Sacheon, located 345km south of Seoul in South Gyeongsang Province, where a flight demonstration was held using the third and fourth FA-50PH combat aircraft set to be delivered out of 12 ordered by the Philippines.

KAI Senior Executive Vice President Kim In-sik briefed the Philippine delegation KAI Main Plant on the production schedule for the rest of the order's delivery as well as plans for post-delivery sup-port and other products, such as KAI's indigenous trainer aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and helicopters.

The first delivery of two FA-50PH took place at the end of November 2015, while the remaining eight aircraft are expected to be delivered next year and in 2018. The two countries finalized the deal for the squadron worth PHP18.9 billion in March 2014.

The Philippine delegation also made a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and engaged in wreath-laying activity to the Philippine and ROK monuments at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul in honor of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) soldiers who died during the Korean War (1950-53).

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