South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak arrived in Manila on a Sunday for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
Lee proceeded upon landing in the country to a monument for Filipino veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War, where he paid his respects.
He later met briefly with about 30 veterans, and was seen raising a toast and posing for pictures with them. He also met former Philippine president Fidel Ramos
The Philippines joined the Korea War in the 1950s after it deployed thousands of troops along with a US-led coalition to help defend South Korea from a communist invasion by the North.
During his visit, Lee is scheduled to meet Aquino on Monday where he will witness the signing of a memorandum committing South Korean loans and investments to fund agro-industrial projects in the Philippines.
"We know many of the tourists in the Philippines are from South Korea. We also have a common interest in trade and investment," said Aquino's spokeswoman Abigail Valte.
