S. Korea, US set for defense ministerial talks

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The top South Korean and U.S. defense officials will exchange views on far-reaching security issues when they meet here for annual talks this week, a Pentagon official said Monday.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Tuesday for the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

"As for the SCM, the agenda will include discussion of the alliance, the defense of the Republic of Korea, evolving security challenges, and North Korea," the Pentagon official said on the customary condition of anonymity.

Kim and Panetta plan to hold a joint press conference on Wednesday after their talks, added the official.

It would be their first meeting since a deal between the allies to allow Seoul to develop ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the previous 300 km.

A diplomatic source here said there could be some adjustment in joint defense plans due to the missile range agreement.

The two sides are also expected to discuss how to cooperate on missile defense, according to the source.

Washington apparently expects Seoul to play a larger role in its missile defense program in Northeast Asia.

But South Korea's ambassador to the U.S., Choi Young-jin, said earlier there will be no concrete agreement or announcement regarding the missile defense issue at this year's SCM.