Defense officials: DPRK leadership 'stable'

SEOUL - Defense officials of the Republic of Korea(ROK), the United States and Japan said they believe the new leadership in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "stable," local media reported Tuesday.

The assessment was made at a two-day meeting among South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Lim Kwan-bin, Peter Lavoy, US acting assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, and Masanori Nishi of Japan's Defense Ministry, KBS news reported.

The closed-door talks, the first of its kind since the death of top DPRK leader Kim Jong-il last December, was held in ROK's resort island of Jeju.

The three officials have reportedly discussed political and military developments in the DPRK after the country's new leader Kim Jong-un took charge.

They also agreed to share information on Pyongyang ahead of major joint exercises by Seoul and Washington next month to deter possible provocation, said KBS news.