Yoon, Estonian president voice joint concerns over North

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, speaks with Estonian President Alar Karis, left, at the presidential office in Seoul on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Meeting in Seoul on Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Estonian President Alar Karis voiced concerns about increasing reports that Russia and North Korea are trading arms.

“The two leaders shared concerns about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and agreed to cooperate for security and peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said the presidential office in a statement following the meeting.

Karis is in Seoul through Saturday, visiting with a business delegation to strengthen economic and security ties between the two countries.

The two leaders were also expected to have discussed the Israel-Hamas war, according to the presidential office of Estonia.

Karis was quoted by the presidential office in Seoul to have stressed “that any illegal armed attack, including the invasion of Ukraine, cannot be tolerated by the international community.”

The presidential visit from Estonia comes as the Baltic country has sought more Korea-made weapons to bolster its defense forces.

Estonia bought 12 more K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers from Korea earlier this year to complement the 24 purchased earlier. The units are expected to arrive in Estonia by 2026.

Estonia, a NATO member since 2004, experienced decades of occupation by the Soviet Union and has provided Ukraine with the largest amount of military, economic and humanitarian aid as a percentage of GDP.

The Estonian president was scheduled to visit the 1st Artillery Brigade of the Army, where he will be given a demonstration of K9 howitzers.

The two countries' cooperation in the digital sector was also discussed in detail, according to the presidential office in Seoul.

Karis was scheduled to meet with executives of Hanwha Aerospace, manufacturer of the K9, as well as HD Hyundai, SK Group and the LG Group.

The Estonian business delegation includes Elcogen, H2Electro, Insta Globe Engineering, Harmet, the Estonian Marine and Manufacturing Initiative, the Port of Tallinn and Eesti Energia.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]