South Korea, Japan Hold Security Talks

South Korea and Japan held their first 'two-plus-two' vice-ministerial security talks in Seoul on Thursday, May 7. The meeting, attended by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee from South Korea, and Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Vice Defense Minister Koji Kano from Japan, marked an upgrade from previous director-general level consultations. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral and trilateral security cooperation involving the United States, addressing rapidly changing security conditions and complex challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, including North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, particularly the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, was also on the agenda. This event signifies a renewed commitment to diplomatic and defense collaboration between South Korea and Japan, building on active 'shuttle diplomacy' between their leaders, such as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.