The defense alliance between the Philippines and South Korea received a big boost Tuesday following the visit of Maj. Gen. Shin Eun-bong, Personnel Command chief of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA).

In a statement on Wednesday, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Shin was welcomed by PA vice commander Maj. Gen. Efren Morados during his visit to the PA headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

“During the engagement, both Army leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the long-standing defense alliance between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, emphasizing continued cooperation in areas of personnel development, training exchanges and capacity building,” Dema-ala said.

Morados also expressed appreciation for ROKA’s continued support for the PA’s initiatives, and highlighted the importance of deepening bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and South Korea to address shared security challenges and promote regional stability, Dema-ala added.

Last month, PA chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, and ROKA chief of staff, Gen. Kim Gyu-Ha, met in Seoul for high-level talks that further solidified the defense ties between the two nations. (PNA)