S. Korean, Mongolian defense chiefs discuss closer military cooperation

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministers of South Korea and Mongolia held talks in Seoul and discussed how to forge closer military cooperation between the two nations, officials said Thursday.

   South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Mongolian counterpart Luvsanvandan Bold also exchanged views on regional security issues, including North Korea's two deadly attacks on South Korea last year, ministry officials said.

   "The Republic of Korea and Mongolia have maintained a close relationship since the two sides established diplomatic ties 20 year ago," Kim said in his opening remarks, referring to South Korea by its official name.

   "I hope that today's talks would become the impetus to further cement the relationship between the two nations," Kim said.

   Bold arrived on Wednesday in Seoul for a five-day visit at the invitation of Kim to mark the Year of Mongolia in South Korea. The Year of Mongolia event is being held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

   During the visit, Bold plans to tour the Korean Navy's 2nd Fleet headquarters and the truce village of Panmunjom, which sits in the middle of the heavily fortified border dividing the two Koreas, the ministry said.

   North Korea torpedoed the Cheonan warship and shelled Yeonpyeong Island last year, killing a total of 50 South Koreans, including two civilians.

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