SINGAPORE, May 31 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japan and South Korea will resume a joint search-and-rescue exercise next month for the first time in about nine years, reflecting improving ties between the two nations after years of strained diplomatic and defence relations, Kyodo News reported.
South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu Back said on Saturday at the start of talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, in Singapore, that the humanitarian exercise involving the South Korean Navy and Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force will be held on June 7.
The exercise has not been conducted since 2017.
"It is important for Japan and South Korea to take a proactive role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including by strengthening deterrence through the US-Japan and U.S.-South Korea alliances and other strategic coordination," Koizumi said.
Defence exchanges between the two countries stalled after a December 2018 incident in which Japan accused a South Korean naval destroyer of locking its fire-control radar on to a Japanese patrol plane in Japan's exclusive economic zone. Seoul denied the allegation.
The dispute became a major source of tension in bilateral ties and led to the suspension of some defence exchanges, including the search-and-rescue drill.
The two countries agreed to resume the exercise during a meeting between Koizumi and Ahn in January in Yokosuka, near Tokyo, as part of broader efforts to improve defence cooperation.
Koizumi also held bilateral talks on Saturday with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and British Defence Secretary John Healey on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum.
Koizumi and Hegseth agreed to accelerate cooperation on the joint development and production of advanced missiles, underscoring efforts by the allies to strengthen deterrence amid growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including issues related to China.
Japan and the US will step up cooperation on projects involving the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor.
Koizumi briefed Hegseth on Japan's efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities, including the easing of restrictions on defence equipment exports adopted in April. Hegseth welcomed the policy shift.
Asked later whether Hegseth had urged Japan to increase its defence spending or mentioned a specific spending target, Koizumi told reporters: "The US side touched on defence spending, but we did not discuss specific figures or outcomes."
In a separate meeting, Healey told Koizumi that Britain would welcome an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
According to people familiar with the plan, Takaichi is considering a trip to Britain ahead of the Group of Seven summit in France scheduled for June 15-17.
Koizumi and Healey reaffirmed close defence cooperation, including on the Global Combat Air Programme, a trilateral project involving Japan, Britain and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft.
-- BERNAMA-KYODO
