During his stay in China Dec. 13-19, Kim will meet with his Chinese counterpart Chi Haotian to discuss the security situation in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, bilateral defense cooperation and other issues of mutual concern, officials said.

Kim will meet with other Chinese military and political leaders including Fu Quanyou, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

"In meetings with Chinese military leaders, Minister Kim will request China's help for the reduction of military tension on the Korean Peninsula," Kim Kwang-woo, director of the ministry's Foreign Affairs Division.

The Korean defense chief is expected to propose exchange visits by top-brass military officials and regular talks between working-level officials.

Kim will visit an air defense center, a military academy and a naval base in China, the official said.

Kim will be the second Korean defense chief to visit China since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1992.

During his stay in Vietnam Dec. 19-21, the minister will hold talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister Pham Van Tra and meet other military officials.

The two ministers signed two accords aimed at bolstering cooperation in the defense industry and military personnel exchanges when Pham Van Tra visited Seoul in August.

They will discuss ways to strengthen the military cooperation they agreed on in August, the ministry official said.

The Korean minister will also request that Hanoi consider Daewoo Heavy Industries and Machinery Ltd.'s bid to participate in Vietnam's project to upgrade its armored vehicles, Kim said.

The two nations launched diplomatic relations in 1992