S. Korea`s top airman in China to build ties in space development

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top Air Force officer left Thursday for
Beijing to meet his counterpart and discuss ways to boost cooperation in space
development on the sidelines of an international forum there, an official said.
The meetings between Air force Chief of Staff Lee Kye-hoon and his Chinese
counterpart, Xu Qiliang, on Thursday and Friday will likely focus on ways for the
two sides to increase exchanges in the training of space vehicle pilots, the
official here said.
"China is active in space development, and we believe there are areas in which we
can cooperate with China as we ourselves seek to step up space exploration," the
South Korean Air Force official said, speaking on condition of anonymity citing
policy.
South Korea conducted its first-ever rocket launch on Aug. 25, but the two-stage
rocket failed to gain enough velocity to lob a satellite in orbit.
The official said South Korea will increasingly need pilots who can operate space
vehicles because the country is looking to bounce back from the launch, which was
considered a half-success.
During the five-day trip to China, Lee will also attend "Air Force Peace and
Development Forum," where he will promote South Korea's indigenous T-50 and KT-1
trainer planes, the official said.
Following the forum -- where he will meet with his counterparts from Japan,
Chile, Turkey and Spain -- Lee will visit a Chinese air base in Shandong on
Monday, the official said.
The official dismissed speculation Lee could meet with the North Korean
delegation that is also visiting Beijing to attend the forum which marks the 60th
anniversary of the Chinese air force.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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