South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is set to travel to Japan next week to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The visit aims to discuss the resumption of military cooperation between the two countries. Ahn’s potential three-day trip is scheduled from January 29-31, as per government sources.
Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun has also highlighted the upcoming bilateral meeting, suggesting Yokosuka, near Tokyo, as a likely venue for the discussions. The meeting follows recent talks between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Nara, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.
Ahn and Koizumi previously engaged in phone discussions last month, expressing mutual interest in enhancing defense ties. This move comes after a temporary halt in military cooperation due to an Air Force refueling incident in November. The incident involved South Korean fighter jets, which were denied refueling at a Japanese air base.
The potential visit by Ahn signifies the first official trip by a South Korean defense minister to Japan in approximately one and a half years. The last such visit was made by former Defense Minister Shin Won-sik in July 2024 for ministerial talks in Tokyo.
