The United States Army chief of staff met his Korean counterpart on Friday to discuss ways to maintain a strong deterrence against North Korea and work together to prepare events marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, the Army here said.

Gen. Raymond Odierno was on a two-day visit to Seoul to give support to American soldiers and meet his Korean counterpart Gen.

Cho Jung-hwan as the two countries are preparing a variety of events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the truce agreement and forging military alliance.

“(Gen. Ordierno’s) visit is meaningful as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the armistice and alliance between South Korea and the U.S.,” Cho was quoted as saying in the closed meeting.

When Cho asked the American Army to cooperate in an event to mark the victorious battle at Nakdong River in the southeastern part of the country, Odierno said his military will provide active support for preparations, officials said.

The American Army chief will visit Camp Casey in Dongducheon, north of Seoul, later in the day to meet soldiers stationed there, they noted.

About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the war that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap News)