South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have signed a pact on cooperation in meteorological matters.

The accord cleared the way for the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to establish official ties with its counterparts in the Southeast Asian region.

Accordingly, the KMA will launch a joint climate change and environmental study with Southeast Asian countries while providing forecast technology to ASEAN member nations.

The move is expected to bolster ASEAN's support for Seoul's bid to win a seat on the World Meteorological Organization council in 2007.