Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrives in Seoul for a two-day visit for talks with South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, marking Koizumi’s first trip in his current role. The meeting follows Ahn’s January visit to Japan and comes less than a month after they held talks on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore. Both sides aim to build on warming bilateral ties and deepen defense-level cooperation, with the outcome expected to be announced in a joint press statement. During Koizumi’s visit, he pays respects at the Seoul National Cemetery and is scheduled to join Ahn in a trip to an Air Force base in Wonju, where the Black Eagles aerobatic team is based. The visit also highlights a previous dispute involving Japan’s rejection of Korea’s request for refueling support for the Black Eagles during an air show trip to Dubai in November, which was linked to aircraft issues after participation in drills over waters near Dokdo, an area Japan claims and South Korea administers. Earlier this month, Korea and Japan resume joint maritime search and rescue exercises (SAREX) after a nine-year pause, reflecting broader efforts to restart and expand practical defense cooperation.