US Secretary of Defense and Japanese Defense Minister Hold Phone Talk... "Will Strengthen Response to North Korea and China Provocations"

First Phone Talk Since Japan Defense Minister's Inauguration
North Korea Ballistic Missile, Strengthening Response to China's Maritime Expansion
Also Mentioned 'Maritime Security Assurance' from Quad Meeting

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Since taking office, Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi held a phone meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for the first time, discussing the Indo-Pacific situation for about an hour, including North Korea's ballistic missile issues and China's maritime expansion. It is reported that maritime security cooperation, which was discussed at the Quad (an informal security forum of the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia) meeting held in Tokyo the previous day, was also mentioned.

According to NHK and other Japanese local media as well as the U.S. Department of Defense, on the 7th, Defense Minister Kishi held his first phone meeting with Secretary Esper since taking office. During the meeting, Defense Minister Kishi and Secretary Esper agreed to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance and respond jointly to maintain regional stability amid North Korea's improved ballistic missile launch capabilities and provocations, as well as China's intensified maritime activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea. The call, initially scheduled for 30 minutes, lasted about an hour.

During the phone meeting, maritime security cooperation discussed at the Quad meeting the previous day in Tokyo, attended by foreign ministers of the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India, was also brought up. Additionally, Defense Minister Kishi explained to Secretary Esper that instead of deploying the "Aegis Ashore" defense system, which the Japanese government had attempted to introduce to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles, Japan is pursuing an alternative plan to establish a sea-based interception system using escort ships and other vessels, with a policy direction to be decided by the end of the year.

At a press conference held immediately after the meeting, Defense Minister Kishi said, "It was a very meaningful meeting. We will build a trust relationship going forward to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance," and added, "Based on the foreign ministers' meeting of the four countries?Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India?I will also hold a meeting of the defense ministers of the four countries in the near future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.