S. Korea, U.S., Japan pushing for talks among JCS chiefs

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the United States and Japan plan to hold talks among their military chiefs in February, an official here said Monday, in the aftermath of North Korea's fourth nuclear test earlier in the month.

The three countries are pushing to hold a video conference next month among Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and his American and Japanese counterparts -- Gen. Joseph Dunford and Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano -- a JCS spokesman said during a regular briefing.

Details of the conference, including how and when it will be carried out, are still under review, the spokesman said.

North Korea conducted on Jan. 6 what it claims was a successful hydrogen bomb test, escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Since then, South Korea has played loudspeaker broadcasts along the tensely fortified inter-Korean border, criticizing the North Korean regime in retaliation.

Four days after the test, the U.S. flew a B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber in the skies of South Korea in a major show of force aimed at deterring the communist country from further military provocations.

Military collaboration among the three nations will likely dominate the conference as the countries are scrambling to contain any escalation of military tensions in the region.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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