Korea’s defense minister and his U.S. counterpart will meet for defense talks later this month, Cheong Wa Dae said yesterday.

In their first official meeting, Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice are expected to share thoughts on wartime operational control and missile defense systems, The Korea Herald reported.

Separately, the North Korean government said it would send its Foreign Minister Ri Su-young to the United States in the first such visit in 15 years.

By Ro Ji-woong (jamesro@heraldcorp.com)