Seoul: Two British naval vessels have arrived in South Korea as part of a regional tour aimed at boosting security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the British Embassy in Seoul announced Tuesday.

The frigate HMS Richmond docked at a port in the southern city of Busan earlier in the day, while the logistical support ship RFA Tidespring arrived the previous day. The Tidespring was built in 2016 by South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, now known as Hanwha Ocean.

The visit is part of the Royal Navy’s eight-month deployment across the Indo-Pacific, dubbed Operation Highmast, which is intended to promote maritime security and strengthen defence ties. Crews from the two vessels plan to participate in cultural and diplomatic activities during their two-week stay. According to the British Embassy, the port call reflects the UK’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with South Korea and improving military interoperability.

In addition, the Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to stage an aerial capability demonstration in South Korean waters next month.

Diplomatic discussions are also underway — on Monday, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by phone with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss ways to advance their strategic partnership. Cho highlighted the increase in high-level exchanges since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung government in June and urged Britain to actively support the new administration’s foreign policy.

Cho expressed hope for closer cooperation in upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement and advancing collaboration in the economic and artificial intelligence sectors. Lammy responded by expressing his expectation for close communication to further develop the bilateral relationship in trade, defence, and climate change.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the security of the Korean Peninsula and the situation in Ukraine, agreeing to meet soon for in-depth talks on strengthening bilateral ties.

With inputs from IANS