Pictures shared on the “Farooq Bhai” Twitter account suggest that the South Korean K239 Chunmoo multi-caliber MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is now in use by Saudi Arabia’s armed forces. This makes Saudi Arabia the second Middle Eastern nation to acquire the Chunmoo, following the UAE, which purchased eight of these rocket launcher systems in 2021.
As reported by the Middle East Monitor news website in March 2023, Saudi Arabia and South Korea have agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation. This collaboration was discussed at a meeting held in March 2023 between Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khaled Bin Salman and South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup at the Korean Ministry of National Defence in Seoul.
During the meeting, the two nations explored opportunities for bilateral collaboration in military and defense sectors and examined regional and international developments, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defence.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Chung Eui-yong, anticipated the ongoing negotiations concerning South Korea’s defense exports to Saudi Arabia to be successfully finalized, without providing further specifics.