Korea-China to Hold Security Talks

Diplomatic and military officials from Korea and China will hold security talks in Beijing, China for two days starting from Oct 17. The proposed talks are the first of its kind in 10 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties. Thus the talks are expected to provide an opportunity to further promote the relations between the two countries, which have been focused in large part on economic exchange.

A government official said yesterday, "Five to six officials from the Foreign and Defense Ministries are expected to attend the talks, in which they and their Chinese counterparts would discuss the political situation on the Korean peninsula and exchange opinions about issues related to the security of Northeast Asia."

He added, "Choi Sung-hong, Foreign Minister and Tang Jiaxuan agreed to hold the talks when they met at previous two rounds of foreign ministers` meetings in April and August. The talks has significant implications in that the two countries can take the talks as an opportunity to take one step further from the initial stage of military talks toward a stage, in which the they could discuss security concerns."

The government is reported to send ministers or deputy ministers as chief delegate to the security talks with China.

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com