South Korea and Japan upgrade defence ties with focus on AI and unmanned systems

The defence ministers of South Korea and Japan have agreed to upgrade bilateral defence cooperation, including collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned weapon systems, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back met in Yokosuka, Japan, where they also agreed to hold joint naval search-and-rescue drills.

The talks come as the two US allies seek to deepen ties under new leadership, moving beyond longstanding tensions linked to Japan’s early 20th-century occupation of the Korean peninsula.

The meeting followed earlier talks in September, with officials stressing the growing importance of trilateral defence cooperation.

ℹ️ Reuters

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Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back review the troops during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, in Yokosuka District, Tokyo, January 30, 2026. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTER Reuters)
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South Korea and Japan upgrade defence ties with focus on AI and unmanned systems
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