Seoul defense chief to meet with Rumsfeld

Seoul and Washington will hold a meeting of top defense officials Friday to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program and the relocation of U.S. military bases on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s minister of defense, Cho Young-kil, will travel to Washington to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Seoul’s National Defense Ministry said yesterday.
The meeting will be the first consultation between Seoul’s defense minister and the U.S. defense secretary since Roh Moo-hyun became president in February.
Mr. Cho will provide details on South Korea’s plans for beefing up its military and improving the ability of its forces, the ministry said.
“The talks are geared toward maintaining a close relationship between the two countries before the annual security consultative talks in September,” a ministry source said.
Mr. Cho is scheduled to visit the United States from Thursday through Monday.

by Lee Young-jong