S. Korea, U.S. agree to mull new defense dialogue on regional policy cooperation
By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed to consider establishing a new bilateral working-level defense dialogue aimed at promoting cooperation between their regional policy initiatives, an informed source said Wednesday.
The U.S. floated the idea of instituting the unofficial dialogue channel during the allies' biannual defense talks, called the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, last month, as Washington pushes to rally its regional democratic allies to counter China's growing assertiveness.
"The South and the U.S. have reached an understanding over the consideration of the working-level dialogue platform to find linkage between the latter's Indo-Pacific Strategy and the former's New Southern Policy," the source told Yonhap News Agency, requesting anonymity.
"But the two sides have yet to reach any decision on when and whether this will be launched and how this will be developed," the source added.
The U.S. has been pushing for the Indo-Pacific Strategy to promote what it calls the rules-based regional order, which it believes could be undermined by China's increasing assertiveness.
On its part, Beijing has been pushing for the One Belt One Road initiative -- a grand geopolitical strategy to connect China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe and Africa through "land and maritime silk roads."
The issue of the proposed dialogue body is expected to be discussed when Seoul and Washington hold their annual defense ministerial talks, the Security Consultative Meeting, in Seoul later this year.

Kim Man-gi (R), South Korea's deputy minister for national defense policy, and Siddharth Mohandas, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, pose for a photo during the South Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2021, in this photo released by Seoul's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
BTS to drop song celebrating 10th anniversary
-
3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment
-
RM to attend Seoul festival to mark BTS' 10th anniv.
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
(LEAD) 4 Chinese, 4 Russian military planes enter S. Korea's air defense zone without notice: S. Korean military
-
S. Korean military continues operation to salvage N. Korean rocket debris
-
BTS to drop song celebrating 10th anniversary
-
BTS to drop song celebrating 10th anniversary
-
(LEAD) 14 injured as escalator reverses at Sunae Station in Bundang
-
Chinese ambassador warns against betting against China
-
(Yonhap Interview) UNSC virtually 'paralyzed' in dealing with N.K. provocations; S. Korea to urge China, Russia to play constructive role: FM
-
(LEAD) S. Korea fall to Italy in FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinals