Japan, US, South Korea defence chiefs discuss joint drills, North Korea

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.

Earlier in the day, Kihara and Austin met bilaterally. The Japanese minister said he reaffirmed with his US counterpart that they will work closely toward more integrated command and control structures between US and Japanese forces as well as promote defence industrial cooperation.

Kihara also said he held talks with Shin and their Australian counterpart Richard Marles over breakfast, with the first such trilateral meeting touching on common regional challenges.