TOKYO — In a significant bilateral meeting held in Tokyo on Sunday, the defense ministers of South Korea and Japan discussed the ongoing threats posed by North Korea and strategies to bolster their defense cooperation. This meeting marks the first visit by a South Korean defense chief to the Japanese defense ministry in 15 years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, emphasized the importance of both bilateral and trilateral security collaborations, which also involve the United States, especially in light of North Korea's nuclear advancements and its growing military ties with Russia. They agreed on an annual plan for defense exchanges that includes mutual visits and joint search and rescue exercises. Later in the day, Shin and Kihara are scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for a trilateral discussion to further solidify their security commitments.