The already strong military ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was further bolstered by a visit of a ranking ROK Marine Corps official to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday.

In a Facebook post, the DND said Teodoro welcomed ROK Marine Corps commandant Lt. Gen. Ju Il-Suk’s party at Camp Aguinaldo.

“The two officials highlighted the continued commitment of both nations to enhancing bilateral security ties, promoting regional stability, and exploring opportunities for defense and maritime security cooperation,” it said.

Earlier, the two nations expressed more defense industry cooperation as both nations commit to beefing up their security partnership.

This position was affirmed during the bilateral meeting of Teodoro and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back at the sidelines of the 2026 Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) earlier this month, wherein both defense chiefs vowed more cooperation for “individual and mutual resilience.”

According to the DND, that meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to highlight the progress in the ongoing defense cooperation efforts under the Philippines-ROK Strategic Partnership, including military-to-military engagements, defense industry cooperation, and maritime security.

It said Teodoro acknowledged South Korea’s significant contribution to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and expressed confidence in the continuing collaboration in the buildup of the Philippines’ credible deterrent posture.

He also highlighted opportunities for deeper cooperation between the two countries in four additional areas – critical minerals, energy, communications, and infrastructure and logistics.

Both parties underscored their increasing participation in multilateral military exercises, reaffirming the importance of enhancing defense capability and interoperability with partners. (PNA)