(LEAD) Seoul, Washington to hold disarmament talks this week

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 3 paras)

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold talks on disarmament and nonproliferation later this week, during which they will discuss North Korea's nuclear program and other security issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Shin Dong-ik, Korea's deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs, will meet with Rose Gottemoeller, U.S. under secretary for arms control and international security, in Seoul on Friday, according to the ministry.

The two sides will discuss North Korea and Iran's nuclear issues under the scheme of nonproliferation and other global issues such as cyber and outer space security, the ministry said in a statement.

Seoul and Washington have been annually holding consultations on disarmament and nonproliferation since 2013 to beef up cooperation over global security issues.

On the same day, Gottemoeller will also make a courtesy call on South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and meet with Cho Tae-yul, a vice foreign minister, the government said.

Gottemoeller will arrive in Seoul late Thursday for a four-day visit before flying to China for the U.S.-China Security Dialogue.

Frank Rose, assistant secretary for arms control, verification and compliance, will also travel to South Korea Thursday before moving to Beijing with Gottemoeller.

Rose's visit to Seoul is part of a four-nation trip that includes stops in Myanmar, China and Britain.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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