S. Korean, U.S. military officials meet

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SEOUL, March 14 (UPI) -- South Korea's defense minister met with a top Pentagon official Monday during annual joint maneuvers that have angered the North.

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin conferred with Wallace Gregson, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, for 40 minutes, officials told Yonhap News Agency. Gregson arrived in Seoul Saturday with Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

Gregson earlier met with Deputy Defense Minister Chang Kwang-il.

The annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle drills began in late February and run through April 30.

North Korea, which shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong and sank a South Korean warship last year, has threatened to retaliate if it is "provoked" by the exercises. About 28,500 U.S. troops are still in South Korea 60 years after the Korean War.