Korean and Japanese defense ministers meet in Seoul on the 28th... discuss ways to cooperate in a rapidly changing security environment

Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will hold a meeting in Seoul on the 28th to discuss defense exchange and cooperation plans in the rapidly changing regional security environment. Minister Ahn Gyu-baek is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Koizumi at the Ministry of National Defense building in Seoul this morning. For this purpose, Defense Minister Koizumi has been visiting Korea for two days since the previous day. The two sides are expected to discuss ways to develop defense exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Japan, which is currently recovering through the resumption of search and rescue training (SAREX) for the first time in nine years. It is reported that future-oriented cooperation plans using cutting-edge science and technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) will also be discussed. There is interest in whether Japan will repeatedly emphasize the need to conclude the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (ACSA) in order to strengthen Korea-Japan security cooperation. Japan has consistently called for the conclusion of the Korea-Japan ACSA, but Korea is taking a cautious stance considering the sensitivity of military cooperation with Japan due to past history. It is reported that Minister Ahn Kyu-baek and Defense Minister Koizumi will also have lunch together after the meeting. Next, they plan to meet and talk with the young generations of both countries at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyzes (KIDA) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. It is reported that Defense Minister Koizumi will also meet with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun this afternoon.