Indonesia’s North Korea ties stoke worries in Seoul over jet tech leak


Indonesia’s renewed diplomatic engagement with North Korea has raised concerns in Seoul over the possible breach of sensitive technology related to the KF-21, a cutting-edge fighter jet jointly developed with the Southeast Asian nation.
South Korean officials maintain that KF-21 data is protected under existing non-disclosure agreements with Jakarta. Still, critics point to Indonesia’s record on the joint project, including payment delays and leak scandals, which have undermined its credibility.

According to Indonesian media reports, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono earlier this month met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Pyongyang, marking the first visit to North Korea by an Indonesian top diplomat since 2013. The meeting coincided with a military parade last Friday celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

During the visit, the two countries renewed a memorandum of understanding establishing a mechanism for bilateral consultations, aimed at expanding cooperation across the political, sociocultural, technical and sports sectors.

Details of the technical exchange were not disclosed, but observers in Seoul have expressed concerns given Indonesia’s status as one of South Korea’s major defence partners.

The KF-21 Boramae, a 4.5-generation fighter jet project jointly launched in 2015, is slated for completion in 2026. However, repeated payment delays have complicated the partnership.


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