By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Working-level defense officials from South Korea and Indonesia will meet in Seoul Thursday for talks on cooperation in the defense industry, the Ministry of National Defense said.
The one-day meeting, the first of its kind between the two nations, is designed to address a range of issues of mutual concern, such as the regional security environment, maritime security and bilateral military exchanges, the ministry said in a news release.
Vice Defense Minister Kim Jong-chun will represent Korea at the talks, while Indonesian delegates will be led by Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesia's vice defense chief.
``The Ministry of National Defense has actively sought the establishment of dialogue channels with Southeast Asian nations rich in energy resources to support the Seoul government's so-called energy diplomacy,'' a ministry spokesman said.
``To that end, we've decided to hold working-level defense talks with Indonesia for the first time among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given Indonesia is not only an energy-abundant nation, but also a major arms sales partner for South Korea,'' he said.
Sjamsoeddin is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Kim Tae-young, he said.