Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Korea-Japan Military Cooperation Possible Only with Public Trust Restoration and Consensus"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated regarding the South Korea-U.S.-Japan military exercises that "military cooperation between South Korea and Japan is only possible when there is mutual trust and a national consensus between the two countries."

Choi Young-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 31st, "We share the recognition that security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is important to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

Earlier, a media outlet reported that the U.S. and Japanese governments repeatedly proposed South Korea-U.S.-Japan military exercises within the waters around the Korean Peninsula through the South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan deputy foreign ministers' telephone consultations, but our government declined the proposals.

When asked about the accuracy of the report and the reasons for the refusal, Spokesperson Choi did not confirm the facts but only responded, "As you well know, our only military alliance is with the United States. Our government's basic position remains unchanged that military cooperation between South Korea and Japan is only possible when mutual trust is restored between the two countries and a national consensus on this is formed."

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