"Japanese Defense Minister Considers South Korea-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministers '2+2 Meeting'"

Japanese Defense Minister Gihara Minoru indicated his willingness to consider holding a '2+2 meeting' involving the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and South Korea, Kyodo News reported on the 11th.

Defense Minister Gihara appeared before the House of Councillors (upper house) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that day and said regarding the plan to hold a 'Japan-South Korea 2+2 meeting,' "First, we will activate dialogue between defense authorities and discuss specific details of security cooperation while coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as we review this."

This was in response to a demand for the 2+2 meeting made by Shinba Kazuya, a member of the opposition People's Democratic Party, who referred to the agreement reached at the Japan-South Korea defense ministers' meeting held in Singapore on the 1st to prevent the recurrence of the 'patrol aircraft conflict' and to revitalize defense dialogue.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko said about the Japan-South Korea 2+2 meeting, "Nothing has been decided at this point, but we will closely communicate with the South Korean side and consider specific linked cooperation."

Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik (right in the photo) attended the Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) on the 1st (local time) and held talks with Minoru Kihara, Japan's Minister of Defense.
[Photo by Yonhap News]