Defense minister Lee Jong-sup held talks with his Canadian counterpart on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, currently underway in Singapore.

According to the ministry on Friday, Lee and Canadian defense minister Anita Anand discussed security affairs and bilateral defense cooperation.

Calling Canada a strategic partner and traditional ally, Lee thanked the country for its contribution to peace and development on the Korean Peninsula, including the dispatch of the third-largest number of troops during the Korean War.

Anand pledged continuing support and cooperation in the pursuit of the peninsula's peace, citing Canada's faithful implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea.

She said her country will announce its strategies on the Indo-Pacific later this year as it hopes to more actively engage in the region. Lee said Seoul was also formulating Indo-Pacific strategies.

The two sides then expressed hope for continued bilateral and multilateral cooperation to seek stability in Ukraine.