(LEAD) Int’l defense exhibition opens at Gyeryongdae military headquarters

An international defense exhibition kicked off Wednesday at South Korea's military headquarters of Gyeryongdae, bringing together hundreds of defense companies and military officials, its organizers said. The five-day Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition got under way at the headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, joined by 365 companies, such as Hanwha Aerospace Co., Hyundai Rotem Co. and U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin. Key participants in the opening ceremony included Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, commander of the U.S. 8th Army, and Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda, according to the organizers. A total of 46 foreign delegations from 27 countries will take part in the exhibition hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army, a group of retired Army officials. The exhibition will feature various South Korean weapons systems, including the K2 main battle tank, as well as foru ms, including one on logistics between South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The exhibition takes place in conjunction with the Army's annual Ground Forces Festival at the military headquarters. During the five-day event open to the public, the Army will showcase new weapons systems to be deployed later this year, including the Korean Tactical Surface to Surface Missile and the anti-air laser weapon system designed to intercept drones. The event will also feature aerial infiltration demonstrations by special operations forces and a performance by the Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team, according to the Army. Source: Yonhap News Agency