Japan, US, South Korea defence chiefs discuss joint drills, North Korea
- The defence chiefs held talks on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum, focusing on Pyongyang’s missile programme and expanding joint exercises
- Last year the three nations fully activated a system to share real-time information on North Korea missile launches. They have also established plans for trilateral drills
The three countries are expected to further deepen their cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region following an accord on Saturday between Tokyo and Seoul to resume high-level exchanges between the Japan Self-Defence Forces and the South Korean military.
The two Asian neighbours reached an agreement to implement measures to prevent radar lock-on incidents, but they remain at odds over a 2018 incident where Japan alleges a South Korean warship directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese patrol plane – a claim South Korea denies.
The first in-person talks between the three countries’ defence ministers since June last year were attended by Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and their South Korean counterpart Shin Won Sik.
In December, the three countries fully activated a system to share real-time information among them on North Korean missile launches. They have also established multi-year plans for trilateral military drills.