S Korea to hold defense talks with Sweden, Norway

South Korea will hold working-level defense talks with Sweden and Norway this week to expand cooperation in peacekeeping operations and the defense industry with the European nations, the defense ministry said Monday. A South Korean delegation led by Choi Hong-ki, the ministry's international policy director, will visit Sweden's defense ministry on Tuesday for cooperation talks with Maj. Gen. Stig Christer Lidstrom, South Korean (Yonhap) news agency reported. On Friday, the delegation will meet Norwegian Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide to discuss regional security issues and increase military ties between the two nations. "This trip is expected to help (South Korea) expand military diplomacy and defense ties with major northern European nations," the ministry said in a release. Sweden and Norway provided South Korea with medical assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War against invading troops from North Korea.