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| ▲ Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back departs from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 29, 2026, for defense ministerial talks with his Japanese counterpart in the Japanese port city of Yokosuka. (Yonhap) |
S Korea-Japan-defense talks
Defense chief departs for talks with Japanese defense minister in Yokosuka
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back departed Thursday for Japan to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, to discuss regional security issues and defense cooperation, the defense ministry said.
Ahn departed via Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for the Japanese port city of Yokosuka, where the U.S. 7th Fleet is based, to attend the bilateral defense ministerial talks set for Friday.
"(The defense chiefs) are expected to discuss the security situation in the region and bilateral defense cooperation," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a regular press briefing.
Chung said the two countries plan to continue strengthening defense cooperation, including exchanges or information sharing for humanitarian purposes, referring to the refueling of the South Korean Air Force's aerobatic flight team at Japan's Naha air base the previous day.
On Wednesday, the Black Eagles team made a layover in Okinawa after departing from a base in Wonju, some 140 kilometers east of Seoul, to refuel and hold an exchange event with Japan's aerobatic flight team.
It marked the first time Japan's air self-defense forces provided refueling for South Korean Air Force aircraft.
Chung, however, indirectly ruled out the possibility of forging a mutual logistics support agreement with Japan during the minister's latest trip to Japan, saying that logistics or military cooperation is not being considered in the ministerial talks. Japan is reportedly in favor of forging such a pact with Seoul.
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