This undated file photo, provided by Hanwha Defense Co., shows K9 self-propelled howitzers. Yonhap

Korea was the world's eighth-largest arms exporter in the 2017-2021 period, accounting for nearly 3 percent of the world's total defense exports, an annual government report showed Friday.

According to the Global Defense Market Yearbook 2022 released by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, the country's arms export ranking rose from ninth place in the 2016-2020 period.

Its share in the global arms export market stood at 2.8 percent in the recent five-year period from 1 percent in the 2012-2016 period, the report said, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The United States remained the top arms exporter over the period with a 39 percent share, followed by Russia, France, China, Germany, Italy and Britain.

Korea has recently stepped up efforts to boost exports of its homegrown weapons systems. Local defense firms have landed major deals this year, such as contracts with Poland to supply K9 self-propelled howitzers, K2 battle tanks and FA-50 light attack aircraft. (Yonhap)