South Korea and the United States signed two sets of agreements Friday aimed at preventing accidents during U.S. military training and to remedy contamination of land at U.S. bases.

The agreements were inked at a special meeting of the Joint Committee of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the Seoul-Washington defense accord governing the legal status of the 37,000 American troops stationed here.

Presiding over the meeting were the committee's co-chairmen, Foreign Ministry Director General Shim Yoon-jo and Lt. Gen. Lance Smith, deputy commander of the U.S. Forces Korea.

General Smith in a news conference at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Seoul stated that the agreements demonstrate the two nations' mutual commitment to prevent future accidents in military training, to adequately meet the needs of victims, and to protect the environment.