Germany, South Korea in Arms Sales Talks

A German defense chief met with South Korean officials on Wednesday for talks on the sale of second-hand Patriot missiles to Seoul, the defense ministry said. Klaus von Sperber, director of international armament affairs in Germany's defense ministry, visited Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-Ung and other Korean military officials, Yoon's office said. Sperber arrived in the country earlier Wednesday for a two-day visit. South Korea last week revived a project to buy Patriot missiles, but a decision on whether to buy missiles directly from the United States or second-hand ones from other countries has yet to be taken. From next year, South Korea hopes to replace its aging ground-to-air Nike missiles, introduced 40 years ago, with Patriot missiles.