SKorea, US hold military talks on NKorea

SEOUL, South Korea— Top US and South Korean military officials will hold talks on soaring tensions following a North Korean artillery attack on a South Korean island. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Tuesday that its chairman Gen. Han Min-koo will meet with his American counterpart Navy Adm. Mike Mullen on Wednesday. Mullen's trip comes as the Koreas trade harsh words about North Korea's attack last month near their disputed western sea border. Two South Korean marines and two civilians died in the barrage. The South Korean statement said the two officials will discuss ways to deter future North Korean provocations. The Obama administration says Mullen will reassure both Seoul and Tokyo of the US commitment to their defense. — AP