S. Korea, Norway signal start of defense trade with technology pact

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Norway on Monday signed an agreement on the protection of defense technology, signaling the possible start of what officials here called a "meaningful" exchange of defense goods and related technologies.

The pact was signed by visiting Norwegian Vice Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide
and his South Korean counterpart Kim Jong-cheon, according to officials at the
Defense Ministry.
The countries currently have no substantive exchange of defense goods, according
to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Seoul's sole defense
procurement office.
However, officials noted the European nation was studying South Korea's T-50
supersonic fighter jet and other weapons systems for a possible purchase.
"The pact allows the countries to provide more detailed information on their
weapons systems to each other, which can also be viewed as a sign of an apparent
start of meaningful deals," an official told Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be
identified because he was not authorized to comment on the issue.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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