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South Korea and Japan Pledge Deeper Defense Exchanges After Koizumi Visit

The talks represent a cautious thaw that expands noncombat ties and tech cooperation without a logistics pact.

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Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (R) and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi play a friendly table tennis match at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, in Seoul, on June 28, 2026, in this photo provided by South Korea's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speak during a discussion with young people of both countries at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, in Seoul, on June 28, 2026, in this photo provided by South Korea's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The two defense ministers met in Seoul on Sunday, June 28, and issued a joint statement committing to deepen bilateral exchanges, including search-and-rescue drills and aerobatic-team interactions.
  • They agreed to pursue cooperation in advanced science and technology, naming artificial intelligence as a specific area for joint work and pilot projects.
  • The joint statement reaffirmed trilateral coordination with the United States and a shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
  • Negotiations over a formal military logistics pact known as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement were omitted from the statement, reflecting Seoul’s caution and public unease about arrangements that could regularize refueling or broader logistics support.
  • Resuming SAREX earlier this month after about nine years and the ministers’ shuttle diplomacy signal steady, low-risk steps to rebuild ties while historical grievances and domestic politics continue to limit deeper operational integration.