Japan and South Korea Defense Officials Meet to Strengthen Security Cooperation

South Korea and Japan's defense officials met in Tokyo to reaffirm the importance of bilateral and trilateral security cooperation in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats.

The Ministry of National Defense announced that Deputy Minister Lee Doo-hee visited Japan for two days starting October 8 and held a meeting with Atsushi Ando, Japan's Defense Policy Director, on October 9. The Defense Policy Director is a deputy minister-level position in Japan.

Before the meeting, Deputy Minister Lee paid a courtesy call to Japan's Defense Minister, Yasukazu Hamada.

During the discussions, Lee and Ando exchanged views on the rapidly changing international situation and the serious security environment on the Korean Peninsula. Both sides agreed on the necessity of close cooperation not only between South Korea and Japan but also among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, given the ongoing escalation of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

They also agreed to expand defense exchanges in advanced scientific and technological fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems, aiming for stable and future-oriented defense cooperation between South Korea and Japan.

This visit to Japan was a reciprocal trip following an invitation from Ando, who had previously visited South Korea during the South Korea-Japan Security Policy Consultations in May and the Seoul Security Dialogue last month.