The Joint Chiefs of Staff says it will host for the first time in Seoul a joint meeting of Asia-Pacific military leaders with the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM).

Military leaders from some 27 nations, including the U.S., the U.K., France and Japan, will partake in the five-day annual meeting that starts next Monday. Delegates from Russia and India will take part for the first time.

Discussions on mutual security challenges and security cooperation are also scheduled for the conference, which will include a plenary in addition to bilateral and multilateral talks.