Seoul's Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik met with a delegation of US senators at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to discuss expanding cooperation in defense-related science and technology. The bipartisan delegation, consisting of Senators Tammy Duckworth, Laphonza Butler, and Dan Sullivan, expressed their support for strengthening the alliance between South Korea and the US and acknowledged South Korea's strategic importance in the region. Minister Shin sought bipartisan support from the US Congress for defense science and technology cooperation, and the senators responded positively. Senator Duckworth emphasized South Korea's growing role in security within the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting its potential as a leader in the area. The delegation also discussed South Korea's defense manufacturing capacity and its potential to contribute to the repair of the global manufacturing supply chain. Senator Butler emphasized the importance of partnerships between South Korea, the US, and other countries in deterring aggression and authoritarianism in the region, expressing admiration for the strength of the ROK-US partnership and South Korea's leadership in the region.