Top diplomats of S. Korea, Armenia hold talks in Seoul

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Armenia held talks in Seoul Thursday to discuss how to increase substantive cooperation in economic, trade, development and cultural exchanges, officials said. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian, who arrived in Seoul Wednesday for a two-day visit, also signed a visa-free agreement for diplomats and government officials, South Korea''s news agency (Yonhap) reported. During the talks, Kim and Nalbandian exchanged a wide range of views on other matters of mutual concern, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the Caucasus, the ministry said in a statement. It was the first time in 13 years an Armenian foreign minister has visited South Korea, officials said. The visit by Nalbandian will "serve as a significant opportunity to review the bilateral relationship during the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and to discuss ways to further develop ties," a ministry official said. This year, South Korea and Armenia mark the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.