S. Korea, U.S. to hold biannual defense talks via video links this week
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold a biannual defense meeting via video links this week to discuss pending alliance issues, such as efforts to denuclearize North Korea and cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
During the 17th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue on Wednesday, the two sides will share evaluations on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, according to the ministry. The meeting will take place in a videoconference due to the coronavirus.
Joint efforts for denuclearization, transition of wartime operation control, boosting the alliance between the two sides and expanding cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus are some of the issues to be discussed during the meeting, it said.
Deputy Defense Minister for National Defense Policy Chung Suk-hwan will lead the South Korean team for the talks. From the U.S., Heino Klinck, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, will head the delegation.
The ongoing defense cost-sharing negotiations between the two sides are also expected to be high on the agenda amid a prolonged tug of war over how much South Korea should pay for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong U.S. forces on the Korean peninsula.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he rejected South Korea's offer on the defense cost-sharing because the country is wealthy and should pay "for a big percentage of" what the U.S. is doing there.
Absent an agreement, thousands of South Koreans working for the U.S. Forces Korea were furloughed indefinitely starting this month.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
Gov't to significantly increase international flights to meet travel demand
-
(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
-
Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
-
S. Korea to send condolence delegation to UAE over death of president
-
(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
-
(URGENT) N. Korea says fever symptoms reported among more than 18,000 people Thursday alone amid COVID-19 outbreak
-
(LEAD) Presidential secretary resigns amid controversy over remarks on homosexuality
-
(3rd LD) N. Korea reports 6 COVID-19 deaths amid 'explosive' spread of fever
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
(LEAD) At least 8 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
-
(3rd LD) N. Korean missile or nuclear test very possible during Biden's Asia trip: Sullivan
-
At least 4 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. have 'plan B' ready in case of N.K. provocation during Biden's visit