South Korea’s envoy to the U.S. on Thursday called for increased defense industrial cooperation between allies and warned against economic protectionism amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the growing strategic competition between the U.S. and China.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute think tank, Ambassador Hyundong Cho said China’s shipbuilding industry is far ahead of the United States. Beijing also has the world’s largest maritime fighting force with 234 warships compared to the 219 in the U.S. Navy.

“Whoever rules the waves, rules the world,” Mr. Cho said, quoting a famous line from 19th-century naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan. “If history is any guide, the disparity could easily impact global power dynamics.”

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There is strong bipartisan support in the U.S. to address the challenge. By working together, South Korea and the United States can build a stronger industrial foundation that supports friends and allies, national security and economic prosperity, he said.

South Korea is the world’s second-largest shipbuilding country with a 30% share of the international market and has a reputation for efficiency and excellence, the envoy said.

However, barriers exist that prevent full cooperation between the two longtime allies. Mr. Cho pointed to U.S. laws requiring that all military ships be built in the United States, which he said limits the ability to collaborate with foreign partners.

“This issue is particularly salient right now as the approaching election has increased the call to protect American manufacturing and the associated jobs,” he said. “This is a pivotal moment and we must recognize that cooperation offers greater benefit than protectionism.”

The U.S. remains unmatched in its ability to produce the most technologically advanced military assets for its naval force, but expanding ship production and strengthening the industrial base cannot be accomplished alone or overnight, he said.

“We can best enhance our capabilities and accelerate innovation to ensure a secure future at sea only by working together as trusted partners,” Mr. Cho said.

Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbor in February 2022 was a sobering reminder of how vulnerable nations are to their aggressive neighbors. The war also brought renewed attention to the importance of conventional weapons like artillery and tanks, which remain highly relevant in modern warfare despite technological advances, the ambassador said.

Mr. Cho said he couldn’t confirm reports that North Korea sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, but said it was “quite likely” that it already happened.

“If that is the case, I think this is something that we have to deal with in a very serious matter together, not just between South Korea and the United States, but also together with allies and partners from NATO,” he said.

Russia’s reliance on North Korea for military weapons to use against Ukraine demonstrates how interconnected security concerns are between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. He said Pyongyang has “willfully established itself as a menace in two theaters on either side of the globe.”

“It is vital that industries from Korea, Europe, and the United States come together to strengthen our collaboration, enhance our defense capabilities, and ensure an effective and coordinated response to the many challenges to global peace and security we face,” the ambassador said.