Uganda's defense chief Edward Katumba Wamala will visit South Korea this week to discuss ways to bolster military ties between the two countries, military officials said Wednesday.

The chief of Uganda's defense forces, will meet with Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Lee Sun-jin during his stay in Seoul from Thursday to Sunday, the JCS said in a statement. "The Ugandan defense leader is scheduled to share views on military exchanges and cooperation between the two nations," a JCS spokesman said. 

In May when South Korea's President Park Geun-hye visited the long-time ally of North Korea, Uganda said it will stop all additional military cooperation with the North. The African country signed an initial agreement with South Korea for a military partnership, according to South Korea's (Yonhap) News Agency.

Last month, Uganda sent three military officials to the Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual defense forum hosted by South Korea's defense ministry, a move to show its intention to increase bilateral military ties, the official said.

Such actions follow North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in the following month, which invited condemnation and sanctions by the international community. Pyongyang caused further uproar when it detonated its fifth nuclear device early this month and may be gearing up for a long-range missile test. 

Source : QNA