National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac is visiting Kazakhstan to discuss cooperation on energy and supply chains. Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik is also considering a visit to Canada to support South Korean companies bidding for a submarine contract, as the presidential office moves aggressively to bolster security and supply chains.
The presidential office said on the 28th that "Adviser Wi is visiting Kazakhstan — Central Asia's largest trading and investment partner for Korea and one of its key cooperation partners — for consultations ahead of the Korea-Central Asia Summit in September." Wi plans to meet officials from the Kazakh presidential office to review preparations for the summit and coordinate plans for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to South Korea.
The visit is also expected to cover regional affairs and cooperation on energy supply chains. Kazakhstan is one of seven OPEC+ members alongside Saudi Arabia and Russia, and Chief of Staff Kang secured 18 million barrels of crude oil there last month. Beyond crude, the country holds critical minerals and various other resources essential to Korean industry, raising the need for cooperation.
Kang is strongly considering a trip to Canada early next month as President Lee Jae-myung's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation. He is reportedly arranging his schedule to attend the Korea-Canada Resource Security and Supply Chain Cooperation Forum, set to be held in Canada early next month or as early as late this month.
Kang's Canada visit aims to support Korean firms bidding for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), worth up to 60 trillion won. Canada is pursuing a next-generation submarine program to order up to 12 diesel submarines, with South Korea's Hanwha Ocean competing against a German firm in the final round.
