South Korean and Japanese defence ministers agreed on Monday to strengthen cooperation with Washington in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats and growing military ties with Russia, Seoul’s defence ministry said.
The meeting marked the first official visit to Seoul by a Japanese defence minister since 2015, amid rising regional tensions following China’s military parade last week attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-Back and Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani pledged more defence talks and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
They also agreed to collaborate on advanced military technologies, including artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and aerospace.
During his two-day visit, Nakatani will tour the Seoul National Cemetery and the Korean Navy 2nd Fleet.
South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. are scheduled to conduct annual defensive drills starting 15 September to enhance aerial, naval, and cyber capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
The exercises follow large-scale readiness drills by South Korean and U.S. forces last month, which Pyongyang condemned as hostile.
The talks come after Kim Jong Un’s visit to Beijing for China’s World War Two commemoration parade held on 3 September.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in office since June, has sought to improve ties with Pyongyang, but efforts have so far been rejected.
Last month, Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo to advance closer security and economic relations.
Ishiba resigned on Sunday, raising uncertainty over Japan’s future policy direction.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday...
Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for a four-day visit focused on artificial intelligence, the future of...
Ukrainian soldier’s daughter asks when he is coming home as war keeps families apart....
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, as Iran reiterated that it will neither enter into new negotiations with the United States nor re-open the Strait as long as its conditions are not met, despite recent indirect talks in New York mediated by Qatar.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
The 81st UN General Assembly has wrapped up its third day in New York on Thursday, with world leaders delivering high-level speeches and holding diplomatic meetings.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will hold an urgent high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The meeting comes as Tehran seeks to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in France on Friday for a four-day visit focused on artificial intelligence, the future of Europe, peace and the Catholic Church's response to its abuse crisis.
Ukrainian soldier’s daughter asks when he is coming home as war keeps families apart.
Finland and Sweden deployed fighter aircraft on Thursday after a group of Russian military planes was detected over the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Air Force reported on Friday (25 September).
The Middle East arrived at the United Nations this week with the consequences of a war that is no longer contained to one front. From Israel and Iran to Syria and Yemen, leaders have used the General Assembly to set out competing positions on the situation in the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment