Washington Supports Inter-Korean Defense TalksThe United States Thursday expressed its support for the first inter-Korean defense ministerial meeting scheduled for Monday in South Korea.U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said in a 16-point joint communique with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Sung-tae, that he hoped the forthcoming inter-Korean defense ministerial meeting will discuss substantial measures to build military confidence between the two sides. The document was released Thursday after the 32nd South Korean-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting between Cohen and Cho. At the meeting, Cohen and Cho assessed the positive development on the Korean Peninsula since the historic inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang on June 13-15. The two sides expected that active implementation of the South-North Joint Declaration signed by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Il will bring about broad cooperation and a fundamental reduction of tensions on the peninsula. However, the two sides said that the DPRK's alleged chemical, biological, nuclear and long-range missile programs continue to pose a threat to regional security. They agreed that the South Korean-U.S. military alliance should be maintained on the Korean Peninsula. Cohen, who arrived here Tuesday for a two-day visit and has met with South Korean President Kim, said that Kim wants U.S. troops to stay in South Korea. |
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