By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung plans to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Singapore next week to discuss ways of resolving the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
During his visit to Singapore, Yoon will attend the fourth Asia Security Conference, dubbed ``Shangri-La Dialogue,’’ to be held on June 3-4 and meet military leaders of about 20 countries, including the United States, Japan and India, ministry spokesman Shin Hyun-don said in a media briefing.
"Minister Yoon will explain South Korea’s position on the North Korean nuclear issue and ask his counterparts for greater efforts to help end the 31-month-long deadlock,’’ Shin said.
Yoon will give a keynote speech on Seoul’s stance on weapons of mass destruction during the conference, he added.
About 200 defense ministers and military officers of Asian and Pacific nations will attend the conference sponsored by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), he said.
Prior to the trip to Singapore, Yoon will visit Australia on May 30-June 2 and meet his Australian counterpart, Robert Hill, the spokesman said.
The two ministers will discuss ways of boosting military cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, he said.
Yoon will also meet with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and visit a Korean War memorial.
