Amid recent progress in defense exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and Japan, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is set to visit South Korea from June 27 to 28.
The Ministry of National Defense announced today (June 26) that Minister Ahn Gyu-baek and Minister Koizumi are scheduled to hold a bilateral defense ministerial meeting at the ministry headquarters in Seoul on the morning of June 28.
During the meeting, the two ministers are expected to discuss ways to further advance defense exchange and cooperation, which have recently been placed back on a track of restoration.
This meeting comes about a month after their previous bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue (Asia Security Summit) on May 30, and also serves as a reciprocal visit following Minister Ahn’s trip to Japan in January.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that Minister Koizumi’s visit is part of "shuttle defense diplomacy" between the two countries' defense chiefs.
On June 7, South Korean and Japanese authorities conducted a search and rescue exercise for the first time in nine years, a symbolic event that had been discussed as part of the resumption of defense exchanges.
Attention is now focused on what the next steps for cooperation will be, and in particular, whether there will be discussions regarding the advancement of security cooperation.
While Japan has consistently requested the conclusion of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with South Korea, the South Korean government has maintained a cautious stance, considering the sensitivity of military logistics cooperation with Japan due to historical issues.
As immediate progress on the ACSA issue is difficult to expect, it is possible that Japan may seek to strengthen defense cooperation through alternative measures.
Japanese media recently reported that following the South Korean Air Force's aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, receiving refueling support from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in January, defense authorities from both countries are considering regularizing such support.
It is reported that Minister Ahn and Minister Koizumi will visit the Air Force base in Wonju, where the Black Eagles are stationed, together on June 27, raising interest in whether related discussions will take place.
With growing uncertainty in the international security environment, there is also room for South Korea and Japan to explore new cooperation linked to advanced science and technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In particular, it is reported that after the meeting, Minister Ahn and Minister Koizumi are planning to meet with the younger generations of both countries at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, to hold a joint security dialogue.
During his visit to South Korea, Minister Koizumi is scheduled to pay his respects at the Seoul National Cemetery.
He is also expected to meet with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on June 28.
This marks the first time in 11 years, since 2015, that a Japanese defense minister has visited South Korea specifically for a bilateral meeting.
Although then-Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani visited South Korea in September last year to hold talks with Minister Ahn, that visit was made on the occasion of attending the "2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue."
(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)