S. Korea, NATO agree to bolster defense industry cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has held his first phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which they agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense industry.

That's according to his spokesperson Kang Yu-jung on Thursday, who said their discussion included deepening Seoul's partnership with NATO.

Rutte congratulated Lee on his inauguration, and thanked him for showing South Korea's willingness to cooperate with NATO via the attendance of Lee's national security adviser at the NATO Summit last week, though he said he had hoped to have seen him in person.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac attended the summit in the Hague on behalf of the president.

President Lee reportedly vowed to continue strengthening Korea's partnership with NATO amid "multilayered" global crises.