South Korea and Saudi Arabia are nearing the conclusion of discussions for extensive defense cooperation, covering sectors such as antiaircraft systems and firearms, according to South Korean first deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo during President Yoon Suk-yeol’s state visitto the Middle Eastern nation. Kim described the weapons market in Saudi Arabia as “a blue ocean,” arguing the market provides a vast and untapped potential for Seoul to tap into. Kim highlighted that the collaborations are designed not as a one-off sale but to be “long-term and systematic,” aiming to strategically utilize South Korea’s advanced defense technology to