S. Korea, Japan and China seeking to establish security talks: official

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Seoul has been pushing to launch security talks
involving South Korea, China and Japan to discuss military and security matters
in an effort to reinforce their cooperation in the region, a senior South Korean
government official said Monday.

"Discussions are under way to launch security talks involving South Korea, China
and Japan," the official said, requesting anonymity. "We are mediating opinions
of the related countries to push ahead with its launch by the end of this year."
The security body will be composed of senior-level military officials from the
three nations who will regularly meet to discuss military and security issues in
the region, the official said.
Once the military channel is established, the source predicted it could boost
military cooperation, including joint maritime search and rescue efforts, and
build trust among the nations to push for joint military drills in the future.
"Regarding matters in the Korean peninsula, we need closer cooperation with
China," the official said.
North Korea has shunned the six-nation nuclear talks -- involving both Koreas,
the United States, Japan, China and Russia -- since December 2008. The communist
nation last month said it will return to the negotiating table if U.N.-imposed
sanctions are first removed.
South Korea and China established military hotlines between their Navy and Air
Forces in 2008.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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