Strengthening Military Ties: South Korea’s Naval Chief Visits Canada Ahead of $60 Billion Submarine Deal

Translation resultAdmiral Kim Gyeong-ryul, chief of the Republic of Korea Navy, is visiting Canada roughly a month before Ottawa finalizes a submarine procurement decision valued at up to 60 trillion KRW (approximately $45 billion). The Navy said on the 20th that Kim will travel to Canada from the 21st to the 29th to bolster military ties between the ROK and Royal Canadian navies and to support defense-industry cooperation.Kim is scheduled to hold a dinner meeting with Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, who has been named Canada’s next vice chief of the defence staff (vice admiral). He will also hold bilateral talks with Dan Charlebois, who has been tapped as the next commander of the Royal Canadian Navy; the navy’s deputy commander (rear admiral); and David Patchell, commander of Maritime Forces Pacific (rear admiral), to discuss ways to deepen military cooperation and advance defense-industrial collaboration.Kim plans to attend a welcome ceremony in Victoria for the arrival of the submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (3,000-ton class) and the frigate Daejeon (3,100-ton class) ahead of Korea-Canada joint exercises, where he will address and encourage the crews. The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho will subsequently conduct joint training with the Royal Canadian Navy and participate in RIMPAC, the U.S. Navy–led multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise, before returning to Korea.