India and South Korea sign defence MoUs on cyber, training and UN peacekeeping in Seoul
On 20 May 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with South Korea's Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where the two sides exchanged agreements on defence cyber, defence-college training and UN peacekeeping.
Summary
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Republic of Korea's Minister of National Defence, Ahn Gyu-back, held bilateral talks in Seoul on 20 May 2026 and reviewed cooperation in defence industry, maritime security, emerging technologies and logistics. The two sides exchanged agreements on defence cyber cooperation, training between India's National Defence College and the Korea National Defence University, and UN peacekeeping cooperation. Rajnath Singh also met Lee Yong-chul, Minister of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and discussed a roadmap for the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X). Later the same day, Rajnath Singh chaired the India-RoK Defence Industry Business RoundTable.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 20 May 2026, Seoul
- Talks
- Rajnath Singh and RoK Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back
- Agreements
- Defence Cyber; NDC–Korea National Defence University training; UN Peacekeeping
- Also met
- Lee Yong-chul, Minister, Defense Acquisition Program Administration
- KIND-X
- India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem
- Also
- India-RoK Defence Industry Business RoundTable
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which of the following was NOT among the areas of the defence agreements exchanged by India and South Korea in Seoul on 20 May 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Joint submarine construction
The agreements covered Defence Cyber, training between India's National Defence College and Korea National Defence University, and UN Peacekeeping. Submarine construction was not among them.
In India–South Korea defence ties, what does 'KIND-X', discussed by Rajnath Singh in Seoul in May 2026, refer to?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — The India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem
Rajnath Singh and DAPA Minister Lee Yong-chul discussed a roadmap for the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X).