Japan and South Korea are set to “enhance cooperation in the military domain,” signalling the possibility of a new political dynamic in East Asia. Official sources in Tokyo told The Hindu on Tuesday Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-jin, who met in Seoul on Monday, “agreed to continue discussions for close consultation and coordination on security in the region”.
South Korean Defence Ministry said the two sides began talks to finalise an “acquisition and cross-servicing agreement”. Designed to encourage the two sides to provide supplies and services to each other in a limited way, the proposed pact would be the first-ever defence accord between the two countries. Guidelines for the exchange of military intelligence were also under discussion now. A South Korean official, when contacted, emphasised that the meeting was not the first such political exercise.
Japanese sources said defence cooperation with Seoul, as “good neighbours,” would be “important” in view of the “sensitive situation on the Korean peninsula”. Japanese spokesman Hidenobu Sobashima said the initiative was an “independent move” unrelated to the rise of China as such. Last month, Japan had pledged to bolster its “defence” in view of “concerns over the military modernisation by China”.
