New Delhi, Jul 8 (IANS): Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who is also the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), is on a four-day official visit to South Korea leading a tri-service delegation comprising senior Indian military officers.

Accompanied by Indian Ambassador Vishnu Prakash, Browne Monday called on South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, who fondly recalled his visit to India last year, including to the 60th Parachute Hospital Unit of the Indian Army at Agra. The unit had given an exceptional account of itself during the 1950-53 Korean conflict.

Kim expressed happiness at expanding strategic and defence engagement between the two countries, underlining the desirability of greater cooperation and coordination on regional and international security issues. He appreciated India's positive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

India and South Korea are in the midst of expanding bilateral cooperation and finding common ground on regional and international issues. There is a regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries.

Browne invited his counterpart, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Jung Seung-jo to visit India. Over the next couple of days Browne and his delegation will visit South Korea's military operations and training establishments as well as defence industries.

The visit of the air chief and the Indian delegation is taking place within the framework of the 40th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It comes close on the heels of the visit of India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's visit to Seoul.