South Korea’s Defence Minister, Ahn Gyu-back, revealed discussions with Japan on a proposed bilateral military logistics support pact. The talks took place in Singapore following bilateral discussions with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The potential Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) was a key topic, although details were not disclosed.
It was the first time a Seoul official acknowledged the inclusion of an ACSA in the agenda between the two countries’ Defence authorities. An ACSA aims to facilitate logistics, supplies, and services sharing during contingencies among the US and its allies. While Tokyo seeks this pact to enhance military coordination, Seoul remains cautious due to concerns about potential Japanese military engagement on the Korean Peninsula and its relationship with Beijing.
Seoul’s Defence Ministry official stated that an ACSA is premature, and they are not currently reviewing the matter. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent call for a balanced approach to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) was seen as a positive assessment of Seoul’s readiness for the transition. There are ongoing discussions between Seoul and Washington regarding the timeline and process for the OPCON transfer.
