President's national security aide to visit U.S.

SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office said Monday it will send a senior national security aide to the United States to discuss various outstanding issues including the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile deployment system.

Cho Tae-yong, deputy chief of the president's National Security Office, will fly to the U.S. on Tuesday for a three-day visit to discuss the security issues regarding North Korea's provocations.

Last year, President Park Geun-hye met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington and agreed to intensify high-level strategic consultations between the two close allies.

The previous meetings of this kind were held in February and April in Washington and Seoul, respectively.

Sources at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Seoul and Washington are expected to discuss the details of the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) here.

On July 8, Seoul announced it has reached a decision to deploy a THAAD battery with all supporting radars and control system by late 2017.

Besides the missile defense issue, Cho is expected to discuss such matters as carrying out sanctions against North Korea, while exchanging ideas on coping with Pyongyang's nuclear development.

Seoul and Washington has been at the forefront of pushing forward sanctions against the North after the reclusive country detonated its fourth nuclear device and test launched a long-range rocket earlier this year.

colin@yna.co.kr
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