NewKerala.com

South Korean Defense Chief to Visit Japan for Key Military Talks Next Week

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is arranging a three-day visit to Japan from January 29 to meet his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi. The meeting aims to resume military cooperation stalled since a November air refueling incident involving the Dokdo islets. This follows a recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The talks will likely address trilateral security cooperation with the US amid North Korean threats.

Key Points: S.Korea, Japan Defense Chiefs to Meet for Security Talks

  • Defense chiefs to meet Jan 29-31
  • Talks aim to resume stalled military cooperation
  • Follow-up to recent leaders' summit in Nara
  • Dokdo islets tension remains an issue
2 min read

South Korean defence chief to visit Japan next week for talks with Japanese counterpart: sources

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back plans Japan visit for talks with Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi to resume military cooperation.

"push to improve defense ties, which have been largely stalled - Yonhap news agency"

Seoul, Jan 21

South Korean defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back is expected to visit Japan next week for talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, sources said on Wednesday, with the resumption of military cooperation seen as a major agenda item.

The two countries are in the final stages of arranging Ahn's possible three-day trip to Japan from January 29-31 for talks with Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi, according to government sources.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun has also reported on the possible bilateral meeting, mentioning the Japanese city of Yokosuka near Tokyo -- where the US 7th Fleet is based -- as a strong candidate for the venue for the talks.

The envisioned meeting comes after President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met in Takaichi's hometown of Nara earlier this month and discussed ways to deepen their bilateral ties.

The Japanese newspaper said Ahn and Koizumi also held phone talks last month where they apparently agreed to push to improve defense ties, which have been largely stalled following an Air Force refueling incident in November, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean fighter jets taking part in an air show in Dubai were set to refuel at a Japanese air base, but Tokyo scrapped the plan, noting how the T-50B aircraft operated by the Air Force's Black Eagles conducted drills near the easternmost islets of Dokdo.

Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between South Korea and Japan as Tokyo continues to make sovereignty claims in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks.

Ahn and Koizumi last held bilateral talks on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur in early November, where they reaffirmed the importance of their trilateral security cooperation with the US in the face of advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Ahn's possible visit marks the first such trip by Seoul's defence chief to Japan in about 1 and half years since former Defence Minister Shin Won-sik visited Tokyo for ministerial talks in July 2024.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The US 7th Fleet base being a potential venue says it all. This is clearly about strengthening the US-led alliance network in the region. From an Indian strategic perspective, closer Japan-South Korea ties could free up more US focus for the Indo-Pacific, which is a positive. 🤔
A
Aman W
They cancel refueling over a drill near disputed islands? Seems like a very sensitive trigger. In our neighbourhood, we see how these small incidents can derail dialogue for months. Hope they move beyond this and focus on the bigger picture - regional security.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from Delhi. It's fascinating diplomacy. The meeting in Nara, then the phone talks, now this. A step-by-step rebuilding of trust. India can learn from this patient approach for its own complex bilateral relationships.
V
Vikram M
The article mentions school textbooks. That's the root of the issue. When history is taught differently to new generations, it perpetuates the dispute. Respectful criticism: Both nations need a joint scholars' committee to agree on factual teaching, like some European countries did after WWII.
K
Karthik V
Good to see dialogue resuming. A stable Northeast Asia is crucial for global trade, which India is deeply connected to. Hope the talks are productive! 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50