SKorean president visits UAE, showcasing deep ties

South Korea president Moon Jae-in attended Dubai's Expo 2020 on Sunday. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for the UAE's purchase of a South Korean mid-range missile defense system valued at some 3.5 billion USD.

The UAE seeks "a comprehensive strategic economic partnership" with South Korea. The nations have strengthened their defense cooperation over the past decade, with South Korean elite special forces traveling to the UAE to train Emirati troops in an unprecedented years-long deployment for the Asian country. 

From the expo, where South Korea boasts a sprawling, elaborate pavilion meant to showcase the country's high-tech and cultural achievements, Moon praised the world's fair.