Director General of Diplomatic Intelligence Park Jang-ho (right) and US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Brett Holmgren at the signing ceremony in Washington, June 24. (Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the US)

Yonhap news agency reported that on June 25, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced that the country and the US signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in exchanging diplomatic intelligence analysis.

Accordingly, Director General of Diplomatic Intelligence Park Jang-ho signed the MoU with US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Brett Holmgren in Washington, June 24 (local time).

The signing comes as the two countries are working to establish a framework for cooperation in exchanging and analyzing diplomatic intelligence.

The ministry said boosting intelligence-related cooperation is part of a plan the two sides have agreed to strengthen the alliance since last year's summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his US counterpart Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, on the same day, June 24, the South Korean and US militaries began five days of joint exercises to enhance logistics capabilities. The event took place at many locations across South Korea, with the participation of about 2,000 soldiers from both countries.

Unlike previous joint military logistics exercises that were held on a limited scale in southern regions of South Korea, this year's event will train troops in actual operational areas to maintain combat capabilities, according to an announcement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The drills are designed to train the South Korean military in procedures for distributing supplies, personnel and equipment to combat units. The latest drills involve about 500 pieces of equipment, including tanks, aircraft, warships and civilian cargo ships.