Seoul: The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan are scheduled to engage in talks in Seoul on Monday afternoon, as announced by South Korea's defense ministry. This meeting marks the first official visit by a Japanese defense minister to the country in a decade.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the dialogue between South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is set to occur during Nakatani's visit to the Seoul Defense Dialogue, an annual security forum hosted by South Korea's defense ministry. Nakatani's two-day itinerary in South Korea includes a visit to the National Cemetery in Seoul and the Navy's 2nd Fleet command in Pyeongtaek, located approximately 60 kilometers south of Seoul.
Nakatani's visit, initially planned for December last year, was postponed following the political unrest caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt. In a phone discussion last month, Ahn and Nakatani agreed to pursue ongoing bilateral security cooperation, as well as trilateral cooperation involving the United States. They emphasized the importance of meeting promptly to conduct comprehensive discussions.
The timing of their meeting coincides with a significant military event in Beijing, where the leaders of North Korea, Russia, and China jointly attended a military parade, signaling a potential show of unity.