South Korea, Japan defence chiefs reaffirm US-backed cooperation against North Korea

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.

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