Published：Jun 18, 16:00Last updated：Jun 29, 00:28

Japan and South Korea Expand Defense Cooperation in Technology and Military Exchanges

Jun. 18, 2026 16:00

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok will visit China from June 22 to 24, attending the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian and Beijing. This marks his first official visit since taking office, aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation and South Korea's 'innovative economy' vision. The trip follows President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit earlier this year, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations.

Summarized

43News

10Media

Jun. 28, 2026 12:06

South Korea's growing arms exports are being studied by Japan as a reference, though domestic opinions differ significantly. On June 28, 2026, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and South Korean Defense Minister Gyu-baek Ahn discussed potential defense equipment and technology cooperation. South Korea ranks 9th globally in arms exports (2021-2025), rising to 4th in 2025 due to increased sales to Poland post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Japan, in contrast, ranks 36th. The talks emphasized South Korea's aggressive approach to arms exports, which Japan aims to learn from while navigating differing public sentiments.

Jun. 29, 2026 00:28

Japan and South Korea agreed on Sunday to advance discussions on defense equipment and technology cooperation. The two U.S. allies are deepening security ties. The agreement was announced in Seoul. This move signifies strengthening bilateral relations in the defense sector.

South Korea and Japan have taken significant steps to strengthen their defense partnership through ministerial talks in Seoul, focusing on non-combat cooperation areas. Defense ministers Ahn Gyu-back and Shinjiro Koizumi agreed to enhance aerobatic team exchanges, search and rescue exercises, and advanced technology collaboration during Koizumi's June 28 visit, which reciprocated Ahn's earlier trip to Japan. The discussions also addressed regional security concerns following recent joint flights by Chinese and Russian military aircraft near both countries.Yonhap News Agency+2

🤝 Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The ministers advanced discussions on multiple fronts:

Defense equipment and technology cooperation
Joint maritime exercises and logistics coordination
Continued dialogue on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA)
The talks built upon improved relations since Japan resolved refueling support issues for South Korea's Black Eagles team.Asahi Shimbun+2

🛩️ Symbolic Military Exchanges

Key confidence-building measures included:

Review of aerobatic team operations at Wonju Air Force Base
Commemoration of January's successful refueling support
Increased joint training between naval forces
These exchanges demonstrated tangible progress in military relations despite historical sensitivities.Yonhap News Agency+2

🤖 Advancing Technological Cooperation

New collaboration areas emerged:

AI development for defense applications
Study of South Korea's arms export strategies (ranked 4th globally in 2025)
Potential joint defense equipment projects
Japan expressed interest in learning from South Korea's aggressive arms export approach while navigating domestic opinion differences.Asahi Shimbun+2

🌊 Maritime Security Focus

Operational agreements included:

Expanded search and rescue exercises
Enhanced naval communication protocols
Coordination on regional airspace monitoring
The ministers emphasized these measures would address shared security challenges.Asahi Shimbun+2

DalianLi QiangKim Min-seokSummer Davos ForumTsinghua University

topic.regionalNarratives

South Korea

Coverage centers on recent defense talks between South Korea and Japan, focusing on expanding cooperation in non-combat fields and advanced technologies.

Japan

Reporting highlights Japan-South Korea defense discussions, emphasizing equipment cooperation and learning from South Korea's arms export model while noting remaining differences.

China

Reporting emphasizes Premier Li Qiang's participation and speeches at the 2026 Summer Davos Forum, focusing on innovation and international collaboration.

United States

Coverage highlights Chinese Premier Li Qiang's statements on China's economic policies and technological development at the Summer Davos Forum.