Yokosuka: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back departed Thursday for Japan to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, to discuss regional security issues and defense cooperation, the defense ministry said. Ahn departed via Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for the Japanese port city of Yokosuka, where the U.S. 7th Fleet is based, to attend the bilateral defense ministerial talks set for Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, ministry spokesperson Chung Binna announced at a regular press briefing that the defense chiefs are expected to discuss the security situation in the region and bilateral defense cooperation. Chung highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen defense cooperation, including exchanges or information sharing for humanitarian purposes. This follows the refueling of the South Korean Air Force's aerobatic flight team, the Black Eagles, at Japan's Naha air base the previous day.
On Wednesday, the Black Eagles team made a layover in Okinawa after departing from a base in Wonju, some 140 kilometers east of Seoul, to refuel and hold an exchange event with Japan's aerobatic flight team. This marked the first instance of Japan's air self-defense forces providing refueling for South Korean Air Force aircraft.
Chung, however, indirectly ruled out the possibility of establishing a mutual logistics support agreement with Japan during the minister's latest trip. While Japan is reportedly in favor of such an agreement with Seoul, it is not being considered in the current ministerial talks.