(LEAD) Navy chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. discuss boosting cooperation after N.K. satellite launch

▲ The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier enters a key naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Nov. 21, 2023. (Yonhap)

▲ Adm. Yang Yong-mo (L), chief of naval operations, holds talks with his U.S. counterpart, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier docked at a naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Nov. 24, 2023, in this photo provided by South Korea's Navy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) S Korea-US-naval talks

(LEAD) Navy chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. discuss boosting cooperation after N.K. satellite launch

(ATTN: ADDS photo, more details in paras 5-7)

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The chiefs of the South Korean and U.S. navies met aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier Friday to discuss enhancing military cooperation, officials said, amid heightened tensions over North Korea's spy satellite launch this week.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo and his U.S. counterpart, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, held the talks aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier currently docked at a naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The meeting took place after North Korea launched the satellite Tuesday night in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from any launches using ballistic missile technology.

During the talks, Yang called for bolstering the allies' combined defense posture, citing military threats posed by North Korea, according to his office.

"Amidst a grave security situation where North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are advancing, let's upgrade the South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture to another level," he was quoted as saying.

The talks came after Defense Minister Shin Won-sik called for joint maritime drills among South Korea, the United States and Japan, involving the USS Carl Vinson, to strengthen readiness against North Korean threats during his visit to the carrier Wednesday.

Franchetti, who arrived in South Korea on Thursday for a two-day visit, took office as the U.S. Navy's top officer earlier this month. She previously served as the commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Korea from 2013 to 2015.

The USS Carl Vinson -- the third U.S. Navy carrier to visit South Korea this year -- entered the naval base Tuesday.

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