Cho Tae-yong, National Security Office Chief, Holds Talks with Japan's National Security Bureau Director... Discusses Kishida's Visit to Korea and More

First Since Director Sh?tar? Yachi in 2014... Presidential Office "Security and Economic Cooperation Are Important"

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office, will hold a Korea-Japan Security Directors' Meeting and a National Security Council (NSC) Economic Security Dialogue with Akiba Takeo, Director of Japan's National Security Bureau, in Seoul on the 3rd. This visit marks the first time a Director of Japan's National Security Bureau has come to Korea since Yachi Shotaro in 2014.

Director Cho plans to have broad consultations with Director Akiba on various issues of mutual interest, including preparations for Prime Minister Kishida's visit, overall Korea-Japan relations, as well as North Korea and regional and international affairs. Additionally, the two sides will hold the inaugural meeting of the Korea-Japan NSC Economic Security Dialogue, which was agreed upon during the Korea-Japan summit in March, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Japan in areas such as supply chains and advanced technologies.

Meanwhile, a senior official from the Presidential Office told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, "Although there are many pending issues between Korea and Japan, security and economic cooperation are the most important," adding, "The agenda will include overall Korea-Japan relations, North Korea, regional and international affairs, and mutual interests."

Earlier, during the Korea-Japan summit in March, the leaders formalized the lifting of export restrictions on three major semiconductor items to Korea and the restoration of GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement). This was seen as a turning point for Korea and Japan to cooperate in the semiconductor sector amid global supply chain issues and economic bloc formation. From a military security perspective, both sides shared the recognition that information sharing is essential as North Korea's nuclear and missile development becomes increasingly serious. Just before the summit, the two countries agreed to lift Japan's export controls on three major semiconductor-related items: hydrogen fluoride, fluorinated polyimide, and photoresist. The Korean government also withdrew its World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint against Japan's measures on these three items simultaneously with Japan's changes to its export control regulations for the same items.