South Korean President Travels to Mongolia for First State Visit in 15 Years

President Lee Jae Myung is traveling to Mongolia for a state visit, the first by a South Korean president in 15 years, after departing Ankara on July 8. Yonhap reported that the trip follows two days of meetings in the Turkish capital, including bilateral sessions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lee delivered a keynote speech at a NATO summit defense industry forum on July 7 and proposed joint defense research, procurement and operation programs with the alliance.

In a separate meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, he agreed to open negotiations on a basic procurement agreement. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the agreement would create an institutional basis for South Korean firms to join NATO's joint defense procurement market, valued at 15 trillion won ($9.9 billion) a year.

The schedule in Mongolia includes a summit with President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and attendance at a business forum to explore new cooperation areas.