Top diplomats of S. Korea, Australia to hold talks next week

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, in Seoul next week to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in defense and other sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The meeting, to be held Tuesday, comes two months after the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries held the "two plus two" meeting in Melbourne in May, the ministry said in a release. "Australia is a key partner that shares our values and holds similar positions in the region," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a regular press briefing. Lim said the two countries will discuss ways to further enhance their "comprehensive strategic partnership" in areas of mutual interest, such as defense, security, economic security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Australia is the only country, besides the United States, with which South Korea holds regular talks involving foreign and defense chiefs. Source: Yonhap News Agency