Korean, U.S. navies agree to bolster cooperation in anti-submarine warfare

The navies of South Korea and the United States agreed Thursday to bolster cooperation and information sharing, especially in anti-submarine warfare, in order to address threats across the region, the U.S. Navy said Thursday.

Adm. Jung Ho-sub, South Korea's chief of naval operations, reached the agreement when he held talks with his U.S. counterpart, Adm. John Richardson, at the Pentagon, the Navy said in a release.

"It's extremely important as we work together -- as our two navies work together -- that you and I have a personal relationship, that we can call one another up as brothers to work for better ways to collaborate," Richardson said.

He also praised his counterpart for the progress he has made in improving naval capabilities, as well as the focus he placed on advancing ethics and honor throughout the South Korean navy, the statement said.

"I agree with the importance of our alliance, particularly navy-to-navy, to deal with the threat from the North, as well as the instability that may take place in the South China Sea," Jung said.

The two agreed that "enhanced cooperation and information sharing between the navies, particularly in anti-submarine and mine warfare, will be helpful to countering threats across the Indo-Asia Pacific region," the statement said.

Jung is in the United States for a week-long trip to hold talks with top U.S. Navy officials in Hawaii, San Diego and Washington.

In addition to Richardson, he met with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus; Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift; and Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander of naval surface forces in the Pacific. (Yonhap)