Coming on the heels of an agreement reached between the presidents of South Korea and the United States on the early relocation of American bases in Korea and the transfer of wartime command, a second round of talks reviewing the Seoul-Washington military alliance will open at the Defense Ministry Wednesday and Thursday.

Officials in Seoul said South Korean Gen. Cha Young-koo, assistant defense minister for policy, and Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense, will discuss the means to revise the current military alliance to a future-oriented relationship and to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK)

According to officials, the two sides will also deal with the relocation of the U.S. Army base currently in Yongsan, downtown Seoul, and the long-term plan to withdraw the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, a forward-deployed unit positioned along the Korean demarcation line, just south of the Han River.

South Korea and the United States began the "Future of the Alliance Policy Initiative" talks to revise their military relationship in order to reflect changes that have occurred since they signed a defense treaty 50 years ago.