Chief of the Defence Staff General Jean-Louis Georgelin also discussed bilateral security issues with General Kim Tae-Young, the Joint Chiefs of Staff official said.

"The two sides exchanged opinions on the regional tensions and ways to deal with North Korea," the official told Yonhap news agency. "But the visit is mostly part of military diplomacy between the two countries."

He said Georgelin paid a courtesy call on Defence Minister Lee Sang-Hee.

During his July 9-12 visit, Georgelin will also visit the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas, and a monument commemorating French soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 war.