South Korea and Germany agree to deepen strategic partnership

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to deepen ties at a summit in Seoul on October 29.

The countries will establish an Enhanced Strategic Partnership as global uncertainty grows.

They plan to expand work on supply chains and economic security, as well as batteries, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

The leaders also discussed defense and arms industry cooperation, with Lee saying South Korean companies are interested in long-term partnerships with Germany.

Merz said South Korea’s security is linked to Europe’s, pointing to North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine and Moscow supplying weapons to Pyongyang.

The two countries signed three documents, including one setting out a framework for economic and high-tech cooperation.

Merz invited Lee to a digital summit in Berlin next year, and he is due to visit the border area between North and South Korea on Friday.