Senior defense officials of S. Korea, Japan reaffirm cooperation against N. Korean threats

In Tokyo, senior defense officials from South Korea and Japan met on Friday, reaffirming their commitment to collaborate in addressing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as reported by Seoul's defense ministry. Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee travelled to Japan for a two-day visit starting Thursday, during which he engaged in talks with his Japanese counterpart, Atsushi Ando.

Prior to his visit, Lee paid a courtesy call on Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The visit came following an invitation from Ando, who had previously visited Seoul in May for security policy consultations between the two nations and in September to attend the Seoul Defense Dialogue. At the latest talks, Lee and Ando emphasized the significance of close coordination among South Korea, the United States, and Japan in response to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, as outlined by the ministry.

Furthermore, the officials agreed to foster defense cooperation and exchanges in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems, focusing on a future-oriented approach.