Defense Minster Yoon Kwang-ung will depart for Washington Tuesday to attend the 36th Security Consultative Meeting.

Yoon is scheduled to meet with top U.S. officials, including his counterpart Donald Rumsfeld and State Secretary Colin Powell when they convene for the annual military meeting on Friday. Yoon and the U.S. officials are expected to focus their discussions on pending military issues, including the reduction of U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula and the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul.

Prior to the high-level military meeting, the chairmen of the joint chiefs of staff of the two sides will convene on Thursday to discuss North Korea's military activities, the Seoul-Washington security posture and other military issues.