Seoul: South Korea's top military officer held a phone call with his newly appointed Japanese counterpart on Tuesday, calling for continued interest and participation in trilateral security cooperation with the United States, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the call between JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo and Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, the nominee for chief of the Japanese defense ministry's Joint Staff, took place via video link earlier in the day. During the conversation, Adm. Kim emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties and ongoing collaboration among South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
Adm. Kim also took the opportunity to speak with outgoing Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, expressing gratitude for his dedication to enhancing security cooperation among the three nations. The transition in Japan's military leadership is set to occur on Friday when Gen. Uchikura is expected to officially take over as the new chief.