[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Aju News) -- President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have signed a series of military accords that allegedly contained a secret clause on Seoul's automatic involvement in an armed conflict in the Middle East country.
Moon said that the two countries have signed a number of secret defense agreements and MOUs (memorandum of understanding) under his two conservative predecessors, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
However, contents of such agreements have been kept under wraps at the request of Abu Dhabi, the president said, adding Seoul could disclose them "at the right time".
"If there is an agreement not to disclose, I think we should respect it," Moon said, promising to revise and correct "flawed" parts in the undisclosed accords through consultations with the UAE.
Earlier, Kim Tae-young, who served as defense minister under the government Lee Myung-bak, said he had signed an agreement on Seoul's automatic involvement in an armed conflict in the UAE. There have been unconfirmed reports that South Korea has shipped arms and ammunition to Abu Dhabi.
On Tuesday, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, a special envoy of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met with Moon and other South Korean officials to discuss energy cooperation between the two countries.
KEPCO, which produces home-made nuclear reactors, has been building four reactors for UAE's first nuclear power station under a $20 billion contract. Moon hopes to attend a ceremony for the completion of the first reactor this year.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
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