S. Korea, Germany hold defense meeting to expand ties

South Korea and Germany held a high-level defense talk on Tuesday to discuss regional security issues and arrange military exchange programs between the two nations, Seoul's defense ministry said.

Lee Jeong-gyu, South Korea's defense ministry international policy director, met with his German counterpart Thorsten Kahler to explore ways to expand cooperation in international peacekeeping operations and exchange programs between the two nations' armed forces.

The two sides also shared opinions on the military integration of armed forces of West and East Germany, which could provide lessons for South Korea as it prepares reunification with North Korea, the ministry said.

The 11th bilateral meeting comes three years after the last one in 2011.

In 1954, West Germany established a military hospital in the southern port city of Busan and dispatched medical teams to help treat soldiers wounded in the 1950-53 Korean War. While still rebuilding from World War II, West Germany offered financial aid to U.N.-led allied forces and South Korea. (Yonhap)