Security and defense officials and experts will gather in Seoul today for the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue.
In its 8th year, the three-day multilateral security dialogue for the Asia-Pacific will serve as a platform for those from 56 countries and 6 international organizations.
From the U.S. will be the U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Robert Abrams and U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affairs Rob Rapson.
Our Choi Si-young tells more.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said Tuesday that U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Rob Rapson will take part in the opening ceremony of this year's Seoul Defense Dialogue on Thursday.
Along with the deputy ambassador, U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Robert Abrams will also attend the event in downtown Seoul.
Previously the U.S. Department of Defense said it wouldn't attend the event but South Korea asked the U.S. to rethink that,... so deputy ambassador Rapson is taking part in the event on behalf of his superior Ambassador Harry Harris, who is unavailable due to his participation in a conference in the Maldives.
Marking its eighth anniversary, this year's event brings security officials and experts from fifty-six different countries and six international organizations.
At various sessions during the three-day event, they will discuss measures to improve the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.
Senior level officials and security experts will also talk about how to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.