South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) Chairman Jin Yong-sung discussed bilateral defense cooperation in his first phone call with Canada’s chief of defense staff on Friday,

The JCS said Friday that Jin had described Canada and South Korea as “longtime friends” and “allies forged in blood” during the phone call with Gen. Jennie Carignan.

The JCS chief thanked the Canadian military for its dedication and contributions to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region, including Canadian troops' participation in the Korean War.

Jin also emphasized the need to enhance bilateral military cooperation through personnel exchanges and to establish a regular consultative body and joint exercises.

The JCS said that the two sides had agreed to deepen their military cooperation after the phone call.