Kuala lumpur: The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral security cooperation with the United States in response to growing North Korean nuclear and missile threats. This agreement was reached during a meeting held in Malaysia, as reported by the defense ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japan's newly appointed Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur. During the meeting, Ahn congratulated Koizumi on his recent appointment and stressed the importance of bilateral coordination to address geopolitical uncertainties and security challenges. Koizumi, in turn, acknowledged the significance of South Korea as a partner in addressing international issues.
The meeting occurred amid North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear and missile capabilities, including the unveiling of the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile and recent short-range ballistic missile tests. The two ministers agreed to enhance their bilateral defense ties with a forward-looking approach.
In his address at the defense ministerial gathering, Ahn emphasized South Korea's commitment to denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, urging for joint international efforts. He highlighted the serious implications of North Korea's nuclear advancements for regional peace and the international non-proliferation regime.
Ahn outlined a "two-track" strategy for dealing with North Korea, which involves maintaining a strong deterrence posture through the South Korea-U.S. defense alliance while seeking to reduce military tensions and build trust with North Korea. He also expressed South Korea's intent to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries, focusing on personnel exchanges, education, and strengthening arms industry and technology partnerships.
In addition to discussions with Japan, Ahn conducted bilateral talks with defense ministers from Australia, China, Malaysia, and Thailand. He solicited China's constructive role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and explored avenues for enhancing defense and arms industry cooperation with Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand.