By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea and China have reached a broad consensus on the need to establish a military hotline within the year to facilitate direct communication between the two countries' defense chiefs, sources said Sunday.
"The two countries' defense ministries have discussed the matter of a minister-level hotline since the end of last year, and agreed there is a need to set it up within the year," said a defense ministry official.
"The two sides are expected to come up with a final decision on Tuesday during their fourth dialogue round," he said.
If the hotline is established, it will be Seoul's second. Seoul already has a military hotline with Washington.
The establishment of a military hotline is also expected to facilitate closer communication between the two countries on such key regional security issues as nuclear development in North Korea.
Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo is set to meet Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's general staff headquarters, at the Seoul-Beijing dialogue in China.
The official said working-level officials from the two countries have exchanged views about the need for a hotline since November 2013, when the third round of the dialogue took place in Seoul.
"There is a good chance that the two sides will reach a final decision Tuesday, as Seoul and Beijing have grown closer since Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Seoul earlier this month," he said.
Xi's visit to Seoul drew international attention as he was the first Chinese leader to visit South Korea before North Korea, a traditional ally of China.
Discussions about a minister-level military hotline between Seoul and Beijing began in 2007, with China reportedly having been reluctant to proceed ― apparently wary of harming relations with Pyongyang.
In November 2008, the South Korean and Chinese navies and air forces established lower-level communication lines. Seoul's Second Fleet Headquarters established a hotline with China's North Sea Fleet Headquarters in Qingdao, and the Air Force's master control and reporting center established one with the air defense center in China's Jinan Military Region.
During the strategic talks next week, Seoul and Beijing will "explore ways to deepen friendship and cooperation and to discuss the security situation of the Korean Peninsula and the region," the Ministry of National Defense said, without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Han Min-koo warned Sunday North Korea would face a serious threat in its survival once it takes another provocative action against the South.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
South Korea and China have reached a broad consensus on the need to establish a military hotline within the year to facilitate direct communication between the two countries' defense chiefs, sources said Sunday.
"The two countries' defense ministries have discussed the matter of a minister-level hotline since the end of last year, and agreed there is a need to set it up within the year," said a defense ministry official.
"The two sides are expected to come up with a final decision on Tuesday during their fourth dialogue round," he said.
If the hotline is established, it will be Seoul's second. Seoul already has a military hotline with Washington.
The establishment of a military hotline is also expected to facilitate closer communication between the two countries on such key regional security issues as nuclear development in North Korea.
Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo is set to meet Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's general staff headquarters, at the Seoul-Beijing dialogue in China.
The official said working-level officials from the two countries have exchanged views about the need for a hotline since November 2013, when the third round of the dialogue took place in Seoul.
"There is a good chance that the two sides will reach a final decision Tuesday, as Seoul and Beijing have grown closer since Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Seoul earlier this month," he said.
Xi's visit to Seoul drew international attention as he was the first Chinese leader to visit South Korea before North Korea, a traditional ally of China.
Discussions about a minister-level military hotline between Seoul and Beijing began in 2007, with China reportedly having been reluctant to proceed ― apparently wary of harming relations with Pyongyang.
In November 2008, the South Korean and Chinese navies and air forces established lower-level communication lines. Seoul's Second Fleet Headquarters established a hotline with China's North Sea Fleet Headquarters in Qingdao, and the Air Force's master control and reporting center established one with the air defense center in China's Jinan Military Region.
During the strategic talks next week, Seoul and Beijing will "explore ways to deepen friendship and cooperation and to discuss the security situation of the Korean Peninsula and the region," the Ministry of National Defense said, without elaborating.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Han Min-koo warned Sunday North Korea would face a serious threat in its survival once it takes another provocative action against the South.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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