In a recent meeting held in Ottawa, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Defense Minister An Kyo-bak highlighted Korea's credentials as the ideal partner for Canada's submarine project and broader defense cooperation. The talks, part of the second round of Korea-Canada Foreign and Defense Ministerial talks (2+2), included discussions with Canadian counterparts about enhancing defense collaboration and positioning both nations as strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Korean ministers acknowledged Canada's contributions to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and committed to fostering a mutually beneficial defense partnership, particularly concerning Canada's upcoming submarine project. They provided detailed assessments of the capabilities and advanced technology of Korean submarines, linking these attributes to enhancing Canada's efforts in reviving its domestic defense industry and creating jobs, especially in the context of Canada's newly announced 'defense strategy'.

As global geopolitics become increasingly unstable, the ministers noted the importance of close diplomatic and security cooperation between mid-sized nations like Korea and Canada. They agreed to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and to explore visible collaborative efforts in areas such as the Arctic and space. Furthermore, a military and defense secret information protection agreement (GSOMIA) was signed, and negotiations for a defense cooperation agreement were initiated, signaling a significant step forward in bilateral military collaboration.