South Korea and Japan hold first defence talks in 10 years

A view of South Korean and Japanese national flags in Tokyo, Japan, 16 March, 2023
Reuters

The South Korean and Japanese defence ministers will hold talks in Seoul on Monday, Seoul's defence ministry said, marking the first official visit by a Japanese defence minister to South Korea in a decade.

Japan's Gen Nakatani’s two-day trip will include visits to the Seoul National Cemetery and the Korean Navy’s 2nd Fleet.

The meeting comes as the region faces heightened geopolitical strains following China’s recent military parade in Beijing, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Analysts described Kim’s presence at the large-scale diplomatic event as a symbolic boost for North Korea.

Just weeks earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo, where both sides pledged to strengthen security and economic cooperation.

However, Ishiba’s resignation on Sunday has raised questions about the future course of Japan’s policy and leadership.

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