After the talks, Kim moved to Mumbai to visit India's western navy command. Kim will fly to Singapore today to attend an international security forum. The 6th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is to be held for two days from Friday to discuss regional security cooperation and the North Korean nuclear issue.
While in Singapore, Kim will also hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Indonesia
By Jin Dae-woong
South Korea and India agreed to hold joint naval drills and expand exchange visits by high-ranking defense officials and cadets.
Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo met his Indian counterpart Arackaparambil Kurian Antony in New Delhi.
Kim arrived in India on Monday for a four-day visit to hold the first-ever talks between defense chiefs of the two nations.
Antony proposed joint naval drills to fight terrorism and piracy and improve rescue operations.
Kim asked India to dispatch a military attache to Seoul. He also proposed the establishment of regular military consultation bodies, Korean Defense Ministry officials said. Antony said he will positively consider the proposals.
India also pledged its support for the denuclearization of North Korea in response to Kim's calls for the support of the six-nation nuclear talks, Seoul officials said.
The two defense ministers also agreed to continue working-level discussions to increase cooperation in the defense industry, officials said.
Seoul is interested in attracting India to its defense products because India is a rising military power that has potential to influence the global defense market.
India has also shown keen interest in Korea's ship-building technology.
In March, the two countries held their first defense committee meeting in Seoul to boost bilateral cooperation in the defense industry. During the meeting, Korea proposed joint projects to trade and manufacture a range of arms and equipment, including 5,000-ton class frigates and mine warfare ships, armored vehicles and K-9 self-propelled guns.
In the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to guarantee the quality of their defense products and discussed establishing a system to promote cooperation in defense technology.
After the talks, Kim moved to Mumbai to visit India's western navy command. Kim will fly to Singapore today to attend an international security forum. The 6th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is to be held for two days from Friday to discuss regional security cooperation and the North Korean nuclear issue.
While in Singapore, Kim will also hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Indonesia.
