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▼ ROK, Japan Defense Chiefs Back ‘Denuclearization Of Korean Peninsula’
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Two sides also reiterate commitment to trilateral cooperation with US, without directly addressing North Korean threats
The defense ministers of South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. on Friday, meeting against the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear advancements.
South Korean defense minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi held talks in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, marking Ahn’s first visit to Japan since taking office last year.
The joint statement further noted that the two ministers agreed on the importance of steadily advancing bilateral defense exchanges and decided to regularize mutual visits and hold annual defense ministerial talks.
They also pledged to strengthen communication between their defense authorities as “regional security challenges” intensify, though the statement did not explicitly mention North Korea or its advancing nuclear and missile programs.
The defense ministers of South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. on Friday, meeting against the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear advancements.
South Korean defense minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi held talks in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, marking Ahn’s first visit to Japan since taking office last year.
The joint statement further noted that the two ministers agreed on the importance of steadily advancing bilateral defense exchanges and decided to regularize mutual visits and hold annual defense ministerial talks.
They also pledged to strengthen communication between their defense authorities as “regional security challenges” intensify, though the statement did not explicitly mention North Korea or its advancing nuclear and missile programs.
However, a supplementary press release from the ROK defense ministry said the two ministers agreed to continue bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. to combat North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.
The language “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” rather than of the DPRK in particular, aligns with Pyongyang’s past preference in negotiations with Seoul and Washington.
It appears to reflect South Korea’s efforts to revive diplomacy with the North, which has denounced all inter-Korean ties and now maintains it will never give up its nuclear weapons.
The meeting’s results followed a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this month, where they similarly reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearization.
While that summit focused largely on economic issues, both leaders underscored coordination on North Korea and regional security.
On Friday, photos released by the South Korean defense ministry showed that Ahn also visited the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, meeting with Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Patrick Hannifin.
Ahn emphasized the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance and combined operational readiness, urging close cooperation between the South Korean navy and the U.S. 7th Fleet, according to his ministry.
Hannifin reportedly reaffirmed the alliance and pledged continued efforts to strengthen combined capabilities.
The language “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” rather than of the DPRK in particular, aligns with Pyongyang’s past preference in negotiations with Seoul and Washington.
It appears to reflect South Korea’s efforts to revive diplomacy with the North, which has denounced all inter-Korean ties and now maintains it will never give up its nuclear weapons.
The meeting’s results followed a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this month, where they similarly reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearization.
While that summit focused largely on economic issues, both leaders underscored coordination on North Korea and regional security.
On Friday, photos released by the South Korean defense ministry showed that Ahn also visited the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, meeting with Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Patrick Hannifin.
Ahn emphasized the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance and combined operational readiness, urging close cooperation between the South Korean navy and the U.S. 7th Fleet, according to his ministry.
Hannifin reportedly reaffirmed the alliance and pledged continued efforts to strengthen combined capabilities.
- 30/1 19:17
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