South Korean and Japanese defense chiefs pledge tighter coordination against North Korean missile threat

During a two-day visit to Japan, South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee held talks with Japanese Vice Defense Minister Atsushi Ando in Tokyo and earlier met Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The meetings, arranged at Ando’s invitation, reaffirmed the importance of close trilateral coordination with the United States to counter North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. Officials highlighted the changing security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the need for joint responses.

They also committed to expanding defense collaboration in cutting-edge fields, including artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, in a forward-looking manner. The dialogue follows earlier security consultations, including Ando’s May visit to Seoul and his September participation in the Seoul Defense Dialogue. Both nations aim to sustain robust cooperation amid heightened regional tensions.