S. Korea, Peru announce defense technology deal

South Korea's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan agreed Thursday to grant technology transfers to Peru to help strengthen the Latin American nation's navy and air force.

"Through technology transfer, South Korea will support Peru in areas of joint production of training planes and navy ships," Kim told reporters after meeting Peruvian President Ollanta Humala in Lima.

Kim, who is on a tour of Latin America countries, said relations between South Korea and Peru were now at the status of a full strategic partnership, following Humala's trip to Seoul earlier this month.

Humala, a former army officer who won Peru's presidential election in a run-off vote in 2011, was posted to South Korea as a military attache in 2004.

Kim will also visit Colombia, Chile and Brazil during a tour of the region aimed at promoting greater economic cooperation.

Peru and Chile are the only Latin American countries with which South Korea has bilateral free trade agreements.