Japanese, S. Korean Defense Ministers May Meet on Jan. 30

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, may meet in Japan on Jan. 30, Japanese government sources said Thursday. Tokyo and Seoul are working to arrange Ahn’s visit to Japan late this month, according to the sources. Koizumi and Ahn are expected to discuss issues including reactivating bilateral defense exchanges, which have been stalled since the cancellation of refueling of South Korean military planes by Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft in November last year. The Japanese minister is considering inviting Ahn to his hometown, the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. The expected meeting is aimed at highlighting the close coordination between the defense authorities of the two East Asian countries, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed the importance of bilateral security cooperation when they met recently. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]