Vietnam Aide Arrives for Talks to Heal Old Wounds

Defense Minister Pham Van Tra of Vietnam arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a week-long visit. He was invited by Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin.

This is the first such visit since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

The two defense chiefs will hold talks Friday and sign two memoranda of understanding － one on cooperation in defense industries and one on the exchange of military personnel.

Mr. Pham will also meet with Prime Minister Lee Han-dong and tour weapons companies and military bases.

The visit is seen by analysts as a way of settling past issues related to the Korean military's participation in the Vietnam War a quarter-century ago.

Korea sent 310,000 soldiers to fight with U.S.-led forces against North Vietnam during the period 1964-1973.

Economic, social and cultural cooperation and exchanges have been active since 1992, but cooperation in military areas was slow in coming because of the thorny past.

The memoranda of understanding, analysts said, will open the way for active military exchanges and the export of military equipment to Vietnam, which is armed mostly with outdated Russian weaponry.

Negotiations on the construction of a naval base in Camh Ran Bay are also underway.

by Kim Min-seok