(LEAD) Lee, Erdogan agree to strengthen cooperation in nuclear power plants, defense industry

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SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Tuesday to further deepen cooperation between their countries in strategic industries, such as nuclear power plants and defense manufacturing.

Lee and Erdogan reached the agreement during their summit in Seoul, following their previous talks in Ankara in November last year. Erdogan arrived in South Korea on Monday for a three-day state visit, marking his first trip to the country since 2018.

"Today, President Erdogan and I agreed to expand the horizon of bilateral cooperation, based on the deep friendship and trust forged in blood," Lee said at a joint press announcement following the summit, referring to Turkish troops' fighting alongside South Korean forces during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Under the agreement, the two countries will seek more substantial cooperation in strategic industries, including nuclear power plants, defense manufacturing and infrastructure, the South Korean president said.

The two countries, in particular, noted the "smooth" progress of cooperation on a Turkish project to build a nuclear power plant in Sinop, in which South Korea is currently seeking to participate, according to Lee.

South Korea's state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and the Turkiye Nuclear Energy Company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation on the sidelines of Lee and Erdogan's summit in 2025 on the project, and they have since launched a preliminary feasibility study.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a joint press announcement following their summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee said the two sides on Tuesday forged an additional MOU on financial cooperation, aimed at providing financial support to South Korean companies seeking to win the project.

In the defense industry, the two countries agreed to broaden their cooperation to include joint manufacturing and technological collaboration and seek to make joint inroads into a third market, building on their ongoing cooperation on battle tanks and military vessels, according to Lee.

The South Korean president also cited future industries, including biotechnology, energy and natural resources, as well as technological sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), as areas in which the two countries will further tighten cooperation.

On the security front, Seoul and Ankara will strengthen strategic collaboration to help ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula and stability in the international security situation, Lee also noted, adding South Korea confirmed Turkey's consistent support for its policy toward North Korea at Tuesday's summit.

"Today's summit was an opportunity for the two countries to confirm their robust friendship and trust, and it will serve as an important landmark for the future of bilateral relations," Lee said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands ahead of their summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

Erdogan said the two countries discussed their goal of expanding bilateral trade, which currently stands at US$11 billion, to $15 billion while ensuring that trade remains balanced and is pursued in a sustainable manner.

The Turkish president, in particular, cited the defense industry as being at the forefront of the countries' strategic partnership, saying that he and Lee strengthened their determination to expand joint projects in the field.

He also noted next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, saying that Turkey is planning various events to mark the occasion and pledging to further deepen cooperation with Seoul.

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首尔，11月3日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明和土耳其总统雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安周二同意进一步深化两国在核电站和国防制造等战略产业领域的合作。

李在镕和埃尔多安在首尔举行的峰会上达成协议，此前两人曾于去年11月在安卡拉举行会谈。埃尔多安于周一抵达韩国进行为期三天的国事访问，这是他自2018年以来首次访问韩国。

李在峰会后的联合新闻发布会上表示：“今天，我和埃尔多安总统同意扩大双边合作的视野，这基于我们用鲜血铸就的深厚友谊和信任。”他指的是土耳其军队在1950-53年朝鲜战争期间与韩国军队并肩作战。

韩国总统表示，根据该协议，两国将在包括核电站、国防制造和基础设施在内的战略产业领域寻求更实质性的合作。

据李先生称，两国特别注意到土耳其在锡诺普建设核电站项目的合作进展“顺利”，韩国目前正寻求参与该项目。

韩国国营的韩国电力公司（KEPCO）和土耳其核能公司在2025年李明博和埃尔多安峰会期间就该项目签署了合作谅解备忘录（MOU），此后他们启动了初步可行性研究。

2026年11月3日，韩国总统李在明（右）和土耳其总统雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安在首尔青瓦台举行峰会后，共同发表新闻发布会。（韩联社）

李表示，双方周二签署了一份关于金融合作的额外谅解备忘录，旨在为寻求赢得该项目的韩国公司提供财政支持。

据李表示，在国防工业领域，两国同意扩大合作范围，包括联合制造和技术合作，并寻求在第三大市场共同开拓，以此为基础，在坦克和军舰领域开展持续合作。

韩国总统还列举了生物技术、能源和自然资源等未来产业以及人工智能等技术领域，作为两国将进一步加强合作的领域。

李还指出，在安全方面，首尔和安卡拉将加强战略合作，以帮助确保朝鲜半岛和平和国际安全局势稳定。他还补充说，韩国在周二的峰会上确认了土耳其对其对朝政策的一贯支持。

李说：“今天的峰会是两国确认彼此牢固友谊和信任的机会，并将成为双边关系未来发展的重要里程碑。”

2026年11月3日，韩国总统李在明（右）和土耳其总统雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安在首尔青瓦台举行峰会前握手。（韩联社）

埃尔多安表示，两国讨论了将目前为110亿美元的双边贸易额扩大到150亿美元的目标，同时确保贸易保持平衡并以可持续的方式进行。

土耳其总统特别指出，国防工业是两国战略伙伴关系的前沿领域，并表示他和李加强了扩大该领域联合项目的决心。

他还指出，明年是两国建交70周年，土耳其正计划举办各种活动来纪念这一时刻，并承诺进一步深化与首尔的合作。

李将与土耳其总统埃尔多安举行峰会，讨论深化合作。

（韩联社专访）在全球不确定性加剧的背景下，埃尔多安寻求加强与韩国在能源、科技和物流领域的合作

韩国和土耳其外长讨论投资、核能和地区问题

（导语）韩国和土耳其第一夫人访问安卡拉图书馆

（第二部分）李明博和埃尔多安在峰会会谈中同意加强国防和核能合作

（导语）李和埃尔多安同意加强在核电站和国防工业领域的合作