South Korea and Japan have reaffirmed their defence ties against North Korea, as senior officials from both countries met in Tokyo this week.
South Korean defence official Lee Doo-hee met his Japanese counterpart Atsushi Ando on Thursday, and the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
The meetings, held on October 9, also included a courtesy call on Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi, underscoring the political importance both governments attach to the relationship.
According to reports, the talks focused on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which remain the alliance’s central concern, as well as regional security more broadly.
The renewed engagement continues a recent warming between Seoul and Tokyo, whose security cooperation is seen as a cornerstone of stability in Northeast Asia.
Defence planners on both sides have grown increasingly interested in unmanned systems, from surveillance drones to autonomous naval vessels, as a cost-effective way to monitor North Korean activity.
Artificial intelligence is the other frontier: both militaries are exploring how machine learning can speed up intelligence analysis and improve early warning of missile launches.
The Tokyo meetings are expected to be followed by further working-level talks in the coming months, as the two countries translate this week’s political signals into concrete programs.
The relationship between Seoul and Tokyo has not always been smooth. Historical grievances, trade disputes and domestic politics have repeatedly strained ties between the two American allies.
But shared anxiety over North Korea — and over the broader strategic picture in the Indo-Pacific — has pushed both capitals toward pragmatism. Washington has quietly encouraged the rapprochement, seeing trilateral cooperation as essential.
North Korea, for its part, shows no sign of slowing its weapons programs. Missile tests have continued through the year, and analysts believe Pyongyang is working toward ever more capable delivery systems.
Against that backdrop, this week’s meetings were as much about signaling as substance: a public demonstration that Seoul and Tokyo intend to face the threat together.
