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South Korea and Japan convened their first "two-plus-two" vice-ministerial security talks in Seoul on Thursday, a significant upgrade from the director-general level that underscores the growing urgency of bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the United States, according to South Korea's foreign ministry.
Coverage Comparison
All reports from Yonhap News — the South Korean wire service that provided the coverage — confirmed the meeting took place as scheduled, with the same set of attendees from both countries' foreign and defense ministries. The early reports, published before the talks, anticipated the discussions, while later updates confirmed their completion. One article, focused on the aftermath, highlighted Seoul's denial of any plans to sign a military logistics agreement with Tokyo, while another noted Japan's continued interest in such a pact.
Key Claims
The meeting, held in Seoul, was the first of its kind at the vice-ministerial level. According to the foreign ministry, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee attended, alongside Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Vice Defense Minister Koji Kano.
The agenda centered on strengthening bilateral and trilateral security cooperation with the United States, with officials citing rapidly changing security conditions in the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. The ongoing Middle East crisis, including the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, was also discussed, as reported by Yonhap.
The two sides called for sustaining the momentum of cooperation between their diplomatic and defense authorities, according to a ministry release. They confirmed a shared view of the "increasingly grave" international situation and the importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the U.S., agreeing to maintain communication.
The talks trace their origins to 1998, when the security consultation was first launched. It has been suspended and resumed over the years, with the previous session held in Tokyo in November 2024.
Perspectives
South Korean Government
Seoul views the upgraded talks as a positive step in managing regional security challenges, but remains cautious about deeper military ties with Japan. A defense ministry official stated that South Korea is not considering an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with Japan, a pact that would facilitate sharing of logistics supplies like food, fuel, and transportation during contingencies. The official emphasized that Seoul pursues "stable and future-oriented defense exchanges and cooperation with Japan based on mutual respect and trust."
Analysts suggest Seoul's reluctance stems from concerns that an ACSA could allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to engage in operations on the Korean Peninsula, as well as unresolved wartime history issues from Japan's 1910–45 colonial rule.
Japanese Government
Japan, as reported by Yonhap citing the Yomiuri Shimbun, aims to make progress on an ACSA with South Korea, viewing it as a means to enhance bilateral military coordination and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. Tokyo also sees it as a framework for stronger deterrence against North Korean threats and possible Chinese provocations.
Future Diplomatic Moves
Yonhap also reported that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering a visit to South Korea later this month for summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung, following the president's visit to Takaichi's hometown of Nara in January. Additionally, Seoul and Tokyo are in talks to arrange a visit by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to South Korea in June. These potential exchanges were not official confirmations, but were reported by Yonhap as possibilities.