South Korea plans to hold arms industry and logistics committee meetings with over 15 countries this year to better cope with global supply chain uncertainties and bolster defense ties, the state arms procurement agency said Thursday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) seeks to conduct the committee sessions with Canada, Saudi Arabia, Britain and others to push for strategic arms industry cooperation tailored to each country, it said. The committees are based on memorandums of understanding (MOUs) designed to promote defense industry and logistics cooperation, such as in joint research, personnel exchange and arms purchases and production. South Korea has so far signed such MOUs with 49 countries, according to DAPA. It said it plans to further expand South Korea's global defense cooperation network by pushing for closer ties with countries that have yet to sign such initial agreements with DAPA. "Through such efforts, (we) will swiftly respond to security crises from the rapidly chang ing international security situation and quickly identify various arms exports demands to contribute in strengthening joint security cooperation and boost defense exports," DAPA said in a release. Source: Yonhap News Agency