South Korea and Japan reaffirm their commitment to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula during a meeting of their defense ministers, according to reports from both outlets. The talks take place in Seoul as Japan’s defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, visits for two days. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back meets with Koizumi and both sides agree to explore ways to deepen defense cooperation.
The reaffirmation comes amid renewed concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently vowed to expand the country’s defense capabilities, including equipping its navy with nuclear weapons and continuing missile testing. Both sources frame the South Korea-Japan statement as a response to Pyongyang’s repeated pledges to grow its nuclear arsenal, while emphasizing that Seoul and Tokyo continue to pursue the denuclearization of the peninsula.
