SEOUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Jong-cheon and his Indonesian counterpart will meet here this week for the first-ever official military dialogue between the two countries, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

    The talks between Kim and Indonesian Vice Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin will be held Thursday, according to the ministry.

    "The ministry has been working to hold dialogue with key Southeast Asian nations to help government efforts to secure stable sources of energy and expand room for the country's military diplomacy," the ministry said in a press release.

    "As part of those efforts the ministry will hold talks with Indonesia, a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a resource-rich nation that is also one of our country’s key partners in the defense industrial sector," it added.

    Seoul is hoping to win the contract for Indonesia's new submarine project, according to ministry officials.