S. Korean vice defense minister arrives in Washington for defense technology talks

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moon arrived in Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. officials about increasing defense technology cooperation between the two countries, an official said.

The talks, set for Tuesday, represent the inaugural meeting of the Defense Technology Strategy and Cooperation Group that the defense ministers of the two countries agreed to establish at their annual meeting in November in an effort to bolster defense technology cooperation.

Tuesday's meeting will involve officials from the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry as well as the U.S. Defense Department and the State Department.

Upon arrival in Washington, Hwang also held talks with Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon. Details of their talks were not immediately available.

Defense technology cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. was a hot topic last year after the U.S. government refused to approve the transfer of four key technologies for Seoul's indigenous fighter jet development project.

Under the 18 trillion-won (US$15.7 billion) program, South Korea plans to produce 120 indigenous combat jets by 2025. In an offset deal linked to South Korea's purchase of 40 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters last year, the U.S. company had offered to provide 25 technologies for the local program.

jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)