The Commander of the Ugandan Special Forces, Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba held talks with the visiting security delegation of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Chimp Corps report.
The meeting took place on Sunday at State House Entebbe
President Park Geun-hye arrived in the country on Saturday afternoon accompanied by a large delegation comprising of 11 ministers, several government officials and security chiefs among others.
While in the country, President Park Geun-hye held discussions with her host President Yoweri Museveni on matters of bilateral cooperation, trade, infrastructure development and security.
Ten MOUs were signed between Uganda and South Korea.
The security delegation was led by the minister of Presidential Security Services; Gen. (retired) Park Heung Ryul and the commander of advanced protection, Col. Lee Young Kwan.
The bilateral discussions on security cooperation between Gen. Heung Ryul and Maj. Gen. Kainerugaba were held on the sidelines of the South Korea – Uganda heads of state summit at State House Entebbe attended by President Yoweri Museveni, senior government officials and the Korean delegation led by President Park Geun-hye.
Gen. Heung Ryul, 68, served in the Korean military for 40 years before retiring in 2008 as a four-star General and Chief of General Staff in the Korean military.
Joint training
Gen. Heung Ryul congratulated Muhoozi Kainerugaba upon his recent promotion to the rank of Major General.
The two security chiefs discussed matters of mutual military concern between the two countries such as training, intelligence sharing, and the counter-terrorism fight against global terrorist threats.
Maj Gen Kainerugaba observed that the visit of the South Korean President to Uganda, one of the first in Africa, was a sign of the strong relations between the two countries.
Gen. Heung Ryul and Maj. Gen. Muhoozi exchange gifts and pleasantries
“We are initiating our cooperation and are eager to strengthen our military relations in particular. We have a lot to learn from an advanced country like South Korea,” said Maj Gen Kainerugaba.
The Korean peninsula was divided at the end of the Second World War.
North Korea came under the influence of the Soviet Union and South Korea under its first leader Syngman Rhee fell under the sway of the United States and the West.
From 1950 – 53, the two Koreas fought a brutal war, leaving the two territories destroyed.
However, since the end of the Korean War, South Korea has rebounded.
The current President’s father, President Park Chung Hee, (who ruled from 1962 to 1979) is credited with laying the foundation for South Korea’s industrialization and prosperity.
Today, The Republic of Korea (the official name for South Korea) is one of the world’s richest and most industrialized countries, with a nominal GDP per capita (estimate) of USD 27,513.
With a GDP of approximately 1.8 trillion dollars South Korea is the 14th largest economy in the world. Global companies such as Samsung and Hyundai all hail from South Korea.
Gen. Heung Ryul was optimistic of a possible re-unification in future of the two Koreas.
He thanked Uganda for the warm hospitality accorded to the delegation.
“Uganda is a warm and beautiful country and we feel very much at home here. We look forward to enhanced relations between our two nations. South Korea is also super calm, except for the tensions with North Korea,” said Gen. Heung Ryul.