On January 30, the Defense Minister of Japan and the Defense Minister of South Korea held a meeting in Yokosuka, Japan. They agreed to resume joint maritime search and rescue exercises and enhance defense cooperation. This marks another significant move towards warming military relations between the two countries under the new leadership.
During the meeting, South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi discussed regional security cooperation and ways to deepen defense cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, including the resumption of joint maritime search and rescue exercises with a humanitarian purpose.
In a joint press release, the South Korean Defense Ministry stated: “Both ministers agreed to activate personnel and unit exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the South Korean military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.”
Suh Wook and Nobuo Kishi agreed during the meeting to seek cooperation in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to space, in order to advance the bilateral defense relationship towards a direction of mutual benefit and future orientation.
They also emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in maintaining regional peace and stability in a challenging security environment, and reaffirmed their intention to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
At a press conference, Kishi stated: “During this meeting, we exchanged views on the regional situation surrounding our two countries, including the Korean Peninsula issue, and unanimously agreed that in the increasingly challenging security environment, our two countries will cooperate to maintain regional peace and stability, and continue to promote cooperation between Japan and South Korea, as well as Japan, South Korea, and the United States.”
As part of these efforts, Japan and South Korea agreed to hold regular ministerial visits and meetings, and strengthen communication between their defense ministries. Kishi announced that he will visit South Korea next.
Suh Wook also visited the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force base in Yokosuka with Kishi and even played table tennis at the military club.
The last time South Korea and Japan held joint maritime exercises was in 2017. Subsequently, a series of events affecting bilateral relations, such as Japan’s plan to display the Rising Sun flag, seen as a symbol of its past imperialism, during a fleet review in South Korea in 2018, led to a standstill in the exercises.
According to analysis by Reuters, both Japan and South Korea are allies of the United States in Asia. Under new leadership, they have been strengthening their political relations, trying to overcome years of strained relations due to Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula in the early 20th century.
Some analysts believe that by upgrading defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea, the two countries are more closely integrating their bilateral relationship into the U.S.-Japan-South Korea security framework, increasing pressure on China and North Korea. Strengthening cooperation with Japan seems to indicate that South Korea is more inclined to rely on the U.S.-Japan security system rather than seeking a balance between China and the U.S.
Some East Asian studies scholars suggest that this makes it more difficult for China to “divide and conquer” in its diplomatic relations with Japan and South Korea, and also presents a stronger united deterrence pressure on North Korea.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Yonhap News Agency)