S. Korea, US to hold talks on N. Korean threats

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) — South Korea and the United States plan to hold high-level talks later this month to discuss ways to further boost coordination to deter and counter threats from North Korea, the defense ministry here said Friday.

The allies “are scheduled to hold the seventh round of the senior-level Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) from April 14-15 in Washington,” ministry vice spokesman Nah Seung-yong told reporters.

The upcoming session will be followed by the Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. The annual trilateral meeting is slated for April 16-17, also in Washington, he added.

“Major pending security issues are to be discussed, including coordination against threats and possible provocations by North Korea,” Nah said.

Seoul and Washington launched the KIDD in 2011 for in-depth talks on issues of mutual interest. Under the biannual dialogue, the two nations operate four committees that discuss joint security policy, how to forge a strategic alliance, devising deterrence policy against North Korea’s nuclear threats, and seeking ways to counter the North’s missile capabilities.

The DTT framework was launched in 2008 with goals to promote cooperation, dialogue and transparency among the security partners, according to officials.

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