South Korea and China resumed Monday a defense policy dialogue, discussing their positions about the recent inter-Korean summit.
This came more than two years after both countries held their last working-level defense policy talk in January 2016. The dialogue has since been suspended in the wake of the political conflict surrounding Seoul's decision to deploy the terminal high altitude (THAAD) anti-missile system.
"Seoul and Beijing discussed the results of the summit and a series of security issues on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said in a statement. "Both sides also exchanged ideas on plans for future military partnerships."
Yeo Seok-joo, the chief of the National Defense Policy Office of the ministry, and Hu Changming, head of the international military cooperation unit of China's defense ministry, participated in the dialogue.
"The resumption of the dialogue is expected to enhance bilateral trust as well as invigorate and enhance bilateral defense cooperation in wider areas encompassing educational exchanges and interchanges of personnel," the South's defense ministry said.
The ministry, however, did not comment on detailed partnership measures or other pending security issues, such as the THAAD deployment or the upcoming trilateral talks between Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing slated for Wednesday.
At the upcoming meeting, President Moon Jae-in and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will share their views on North Korea's recent pledge on denuclearization.