South Korea and Japan pledge deeper defence cooperation amid lingering tensions

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi spoke by video on Tuesday, sharing a common view on expanding defence cooperation grounded in mutual understanding. Ahn conveyed sympathy for the late-July earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture and reiterated the confidence cultivated during his tenure. The two officials underscored the importance of both bilateral and trilateral security coordination with the United States to safeguard peace on the Korean Peninsula and the broader region.

Their dialogue comes after recent strains, notably Koizumi’s visit to a disputed war shrine in Tokyo, which drew criticism from Seoul, and his decision not to attend the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue, where a Japanese vice-minister represented the country. Despite these setbacks, both sides affirmed a consensus on continuing joint defence efforts.