ID :
85659
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 13:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/85659
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea, U.S. launch annual defense talks over N. Korean nuclear threat
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The top defense officials of South Korea and the U.S.
began their annual security talks on Thursday as the two allies sought to temper
North Korea's aspirations to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young met with his U.S. counterpart, Robert
Gates, at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul and held more than
two-hour-long talks, part of which were attended by the highest-ranking
commanders of their countries.
The Security Consultative Meeting, the 41st of its kind, comes as North Korea
appears increasingly willing to engage in dialogue with the outside world even as
it shows no sign of backing down on its nuclear and missile programs.
The country set off its second underground atomic explosion in May and resumed
the testing of its missiles earlier this month for the first time in three
months.
U.S. Defense Secretary Gates said Wednesday in a speech to a select group of U.S.
and South Korean soldiers that his country would "never accept a North Korea with
nuclear weapons."
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War,
which ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty, offering a deterrent against
North Korea.
"Ironically, even as the capability of their ground forces continues to degrade,
their missile development and nuclear programs are increasingly dangerous," he
said, referring to the North.
In the Military Committee Meeting hours earlier, South Korean Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Lee Sang-eui and his U.S. counterpart, Adm. Michael Mullen,
shared their latest intelligence on North Korea's military capabilities and
discussed combined measures to deal with the communist state's threats.
"The U.S. is committed to providing the extended deterrence using the full range
of American military might -- from the nuclear umbrella to conventional strike
and missile defense capabilities," Gates said.
The annual meetings come ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's trip to South
Korea for a summit in mid-November as part of his four-nation Asian trip.
South Korean media have speculated for weeks that the visit by Gates is aimed at
paving the ground for the U.S. to ask South Korea to increase its military
contributions to fighting insurgents in Afghanistan, possibly including the
deployment of combat troops.
"We encourage the Republic of Korea's political leaders to make an investment in
defense appropriate to Korea's emerging role as a contributor to global security
and commensurate with the threat you face on the peninsula," Gates said
Wednesday. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.
"Going forward, Korea's international military contributions should be seen as
what they are -- something that is done to benefit your own security and vital
interests," he said.
The security talks are alternately hosted by Seoul and Washington.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The top defense officials of South Korea and the U.S.
began their annual security talks on Thursday as the two allies sought to temper
North Korea's aspirations to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young met with his U.S. counterpart, Robert
Gates, at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul and held more than
two-hour-long talks, part of which were attended by the highest-ranking
commanders of their countries.
The Security Consultative Meeting, the 41st of its kind, comes as North Korea
appears increasingly willing to engage in dialogue with the outside world even as
it shows no sign of backing down on its nuclear and missile programs.
The country set off its second underground atomic explosion in May and resumed
the testing of its missiles earlier this month for the first time in three
months.
U.S. Defense Secretary Gates said Wednesday in a speech to a select group of U.S.
and South Korean soldiers that his country would "never accept a North Korea with
nuclear weapons."
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War,
which ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty, offering a deterrent against
North Korea.
"Ironically, even as the capability of their ground forces continues to degrade,
their missile development and nuclear programs are increasingly dangerous," he
said, referring to the North.
In the Military Committee Meeting hours earlier, South Korean Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Lee Sang-eui and his U.S. counterpart, Adm. Michael Mullen,
shared their latest intelligence on North Korea's military capabilities and
discussed combined measures to deal with the communist state's threats.
"The U.S. is committed to providing the extended deterrence using the full range
of American military might -- from the nuclear umbrella to conventional strike
and missile defense capabilities," Gates said.
The annual meetings come ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's trip to South
Korea for a summit in mid-November as part of his four-nation Asian trip.
South Korean media have speculated for weeks that the visit by Gates is aimed at
paving the ground for the U.S. to ask South Korea to increase its military
contributions to fighting insurgents in Afghanistan, possibly including the
deployment of combat troops.
"We encourage the Republic of Korea's political leaders to make an investment in
defense appropriate to Korea's emerging role as a contributor to global security
and commensurate with the threat you face on the peninsula," Gates said
Wednesday. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.
"Going forward, Korea's international military contributions should be seen as
what they are -- something that is done to benefit your own security and vital
interests," he said.
The security talks are alternately hosted by Seoul and Washington.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
