South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held talks with the U.S. secretary of the army on Thursday and agreed to expand drone cooperation, emphasizing the importance of a “robust” defense posture to deter North Korean military threats.

The meeting in Seoul with Daniel Driscoll, a senior civilian official within the U.S. Defense Department, came as the DPRK has declared the development of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) the military’s “top priority,” reflecting lessons learned from its deployment of troops to the war in Ukraine.

“Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in the joint research, production, and operation of drones, recognizing