Vice defense heads of S. Korea, Japan discuss N. Korea

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- Japan's second-highest defense official met with his
South Korean counterpart Tuesday and exchanged views on North Korea's nuclear and
missile development, officials here said.
In the first meeting between the vice defense ministers of the two nations in
nine years, Japan's Kohei Masuda and the South Korea's Chang Soo-man also
discussed ways to strengthen bilateral security ties, the officials said.
"The meeting was mainly aimed at assessing the current situation with regard to
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," South Korean defense ministry
spokesman Won Tae-jae said.
Won and other officials declined to elaborate because the two sides agreed not to
divulge specific details concerning their talks.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is set to travel to Japan on Sunday amid
persisting tensions over the May 25 nuclear test by North Korea.
Since the second nuclear test by the intransigent communist state, South Korea
and Japan have engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activities along with the U.S.
in an effort to tame North Korea.
North Korea, which conducted its first underground nuclear test in 2006, has
recently threatened war despite the efforts and appears to be readying to test a
long-range missile.
It expelled outside monitors from its nuclear facilities and denounced the U.N.
Security Council for passing a resolution tightening sanctions on the North for
the nuclear test.
Masuda paid a courtesy call on South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee, the
officials said.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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