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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1000 GMT, July 20

Xinhua, July 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korea on Monday expressed deep regrets over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s refusal to Seoul's invitation to a regional security conference set to be held in September.

South Korea's Defense Ministry Friday invited the DPRK to the Seoul Defense Dialogue, a vice ministerial-level regional security forum launched in 2012 by Seoul. This year's forum is slated for three days from September 9. (South Korea-DPRK)

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CANBERRA -- Chinese Ambassador to Australia Ma Zhaoxu " delivered a strong assurance" that China poses no security threat to Australia and the world, a top Australian newspaper said in a report.

After an exclusive interview with Ma by its defense editor Brendan Nicholson, The Australian, one of the country's most influential newspaper, published a report on Saturday in which the Chinese ambassador expounded China's stances on a range of issues including the Sino-Australian relationship and the South China Sea.

Ambassador Ma told Nicholson that China is willing to develop a stronger, deeper military-to-military relationship with Australia. (Australia-China-Interview)

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KABUL -- At least eight Afghan army soldiers were feared killed and five others wounded after U.S. forces of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission attacked a security checkpoint mistakenly by an air raid in eastern Logar province on Monday morning, local sources said.

"Helicopters of the U.S. forces bombed an army security checkpoint in Chelton locality of Baraki Barak district at wee hours of the day, causing eight soldiers killed and five others wounded," a provincial source told Xinhua anonymously. ( Afghanistan-Air Raid)

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KABUL -- Some 56 militants have been killed in latest military operations and clashes with security forces across Afghanistan, said the country's Defense Ministry on Monday.

The Afghan National Army (ANA) has waged several joint and independent military operations from July 16 to July 19, "killing 56 terrorists and injuring 19 other enemies," the ministry said in a statement providing operational updates. (Afghanistan-Talib