South Korea and Japan Renew Naval Drills After Nine-Year Hiatus

South Korea and Japan have reached an agreement to resume joint naval search and rescue exercises for the first time in nine years. This significant decision was announced following a meeting between South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Yokosuka base of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force. The restoration of these drills aims to enhance defense cooperation between the two countries, which have faced diplomatic challenges in the past.

The joint exercises, which last took place in 2017, will focus on humanitarian efforts, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties amid a complex regional security environment. The defense ministries of both nations indicated that the resumption of these exercises is a step toward improving mutual understanding and trust between the South Korean military and the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

In their discussions, Ahn and Koizumi explored cooperative initiatives in various fields, including artificial intelligence and space, with the intent to foster a “mutually beneficial and future-oriented” relationship. They emphasized the necessity of bilateral cooperation to maintain regional peace and stability, particularly in light of North Korean nuclear threats.

As part of their ongoing collaboration, the ministers agreed to hold regular ministerial visits and discussions to enhance communication between their respective defense authorities. Ahn extended an invitation to Koizumi to visit South Korea to further promote their mutual exchanges.

These talks were preceded by a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this month in Nara, where they aimed to deepen bilateral ties. In a demonstration of increasing military cooperation, the South Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles team recently made a stop in Okinawa while en route to Saudi Arabia, marking the first time Japan’s air self-defense forces provided refueling support for South Korean aircraft.

Ahn and Koizumi last held discussions in early November during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, where they reaffirmed the importance of trilateral security cooperation with the United States in response to North Korean developments.

The visit by Ahn is notable as it marks the first trip by a South Korean defense chief to Japan in approximately 18 months. Ahn also visited the USS George Washington aircraft carrier docked in Yokosuka, where he met with Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, the commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet. During their meeting, Ahn highlighted the significance of the enduring South Korea-U.S. alliance and their collaborative defense posture, underscoring the ongoing commitment to regional security.

This renewed focus on defense cooperation signals a potential thaw in relations between South Korea and Japan, laying the groundwork for further collaboration in the years to come.